Inquiry to hear Kelly briefing tape

A tape of Iraq mole Dr David Kelly briefing a BBC journalist was expected to be played today at the inquiry into his death.

Dr Kelly slashed his wrist at a beauty spot after being named as the source of BBC claims that intelligence was “sexed up“.

But his voice was expected to be heard at Britain's Royal Courts of Justice on the third day of Lord Hutton’s inquiry into events leading up to his death.

Susan Watts, BBC2 Newsnight’s science editor, recorded her third and final conversation with the scientist. Ms Watts yesterday provided key backing for colleague Andrew Gilligan, whose original report sparked the ferocious battle between the BBC and Downing Street.

Mr Gilligan accused British government communications chief Alastair Campbell of publishing information that Iraq could launch weapons of mass destruction within 45 minutes against the wishes of the intelligence services.

The journalist told Lord Hutton’s inquiry Dr Kelly was the source for the report on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. The former weapons inspector had denied that to his Ministry of Defence bosses and Parliamentary committees probing the claims.

However, Ms Watts said Dr Kelly had also made the allegation to her at a meeting that was not taped two weeks before telling Mr Gilligan.

She did not use the “45 minute” claim in her report because it appeared to be a “gossipy aside“, she told the inquiry. “I had no reason to believe that he had particular access that would make that a comment that I would want to use in a Newsnight report,” she said.

Ms Watts said she only later realised how good Dr Kelly’s information was. That happened when his revelation that the 45 minute claim was from a single intelligence source was confirmed by Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram.

“With hindsight, he was passing on that information three weeks before it became public which does indicate that he had extraordinary access to the information in that dossier,” she said.

Her evidence came as a boost for Mr Gilligan, who has faced questions about why Ms Watts and a third BBC reporter Gavin Hewitt did not make the same allegations after speaking with Dr Kelly.

Mr Hewitt was expected to take the stand once Ms Watts finishes her evidence. He will be followed by BBC head of news Richard Sambrook. Dr Kelly’s boss at Britain's Ministry of Defence Brian Wells was also due to appear today.

Mr Sambrook will face tough questions about the BBC’s uncompromising support for Mr Gilligan after the misgivings of senior managers were disclosed yesterday.

They were documented in an e-mail from Today programme editor Kevin Marsh to the head of BBC Radio News, Stephen Mitchell, read out to the inquiry.

“I hope my worst fears based on what I heard from the spooks this afternoon are not realised,” Mr Marsh said. “This story was a good piece of investigative journalism marred by flawed reporting. The biggest millstone has been the loose use of language and lack of judgment in some of the phraseology.”

He added that they had been “damaged” by Mr Gilligan’s “distant” relationship with the programme.

His reference to “spooks” apparently referred to a meeting that he and the programme’s presenter John Humphrys were reported to have had with MI6 chief Sir Richard Dearlove.

Counsel to the inquiry, James Dingemans QC, then read from a document from the BBC Board of Governors which noted: “Careful language had not been applied by Andrew Gilligan throughout.”

Mr Gilligan said he had not been aware of either document but Mr Marsh’s comments were not an “entirely fair analysis” and that he had been under “maximum pressure” when he had made them.