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BBC 17 0084

This statement from the BBC confirms that Dr. David Kelly was the primary source for BBC reports in May and June regarding Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. It expresses regret for Kelly's death and confirms the BBC will fully cooperate with the government's inquiry. The BBC believes it was right to publish Kelly's views but is saddened his involvement ended so tragically.

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88 views1 page

BBC 17 0084

This statement from the BBC confirms that Dr. David Kelly was the primary source for BBC reports in May and June regarding Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. It expresses regret for Kelly's death and confirms the BBC will fully cooperate with the government's inquiry. The BBC believes it was right to publish Kelly's views but is saddened his involvement ended so tragically.

Uploaded by

Bren-R
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Fiona Hillary

From . Jackie Burcon


Sent. 19 July 2003 19 26
To : ExCo
Subject : BBC Statement regarding Dr David Kelly

This statement will be released by the BBC Press Office imminently

The BBC deeply re-grets the death ofDr David Kellv- We had the greatest respect for his achievements in
Iraq and elsewhere over many years and wish once again to express our condolences to his familN

There has been much speculation about whether Dr Kellv was the source for the Toda,, programme report
b~ Andrew Gilligan on May 2911,

Having now informed Dr Kelly's familv,we can confirm that Dr Kelly was the principal source for both
Andrew Gilhaan's report and ior Susan"Aarts reports on Newsnight on June 2ni and 4th Over the past few
weeks we have been at pains to protect Dr Kelly being identified as the source of these reports We believed
we owed him a duty of confidentiality . We now believe, in order to end the continuma speculation, it is
portant to reveal this information as swiftly as possible .

The BBC vvil fully co-operate with the Government's inquin, We will make a full and frank submission to
Lord Hutton and will provide full details of all the contacts between Dr Kelly and the two BBC joumalists
including contemporaneous notes and other materials made by both journalists, independently . We continue
to believe we were riQht at the time to place Dr Kelly's views in the public domain

However, the BBC is profoundly som that his involvement as our source has ended so tragically .

Note to editors We apologise for the late release of this statement Folio" ma the formal identification of
Doctor Kellv's body today we have been in contact with his famil~, who are aware this is being released
toniL,ht

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