Gavyn Davies

From : Tina Stowell

Sent: 19 July 2003 19 37
To: Angela Sarkls ; ryder@parliament uk, Dame Pauline Nevdle-JDnes-DO NOT DE_ETE,
Dermot Gleesoi, Fab ;an Monds, Gavyn Davles; hoggs@parliament u
r m iones@bangcr ac uk, Rar;rt Sondhr rcbert sm:th@weit co uk, n.th . deech@st-
annes ox ac uk
Cc : Simon Mllner-SEC
Subject : FVV BBC Statement regarding Dr David Kelly

Dear All

Herewith the sta:ement issued by management.

Tina

-----Drignal Message-----
From : Jackie Bir-on
~nt: 19 hly 2003 19 .26
ExCo
-ubject : BBC Statement regardmg or Dawd Kel,y

This statement will be released by the BBC Press O71ce Immiriently

The BBC deeply regrets the death of Dr David Kelly . 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 family.

There has been much speculation about whether Dr Kelly was the source for the Today programme report by
Andrew Gilligan on May 29u'

Havina now informed Dr Kel :y's family, we can confirm that Dr Kelly was the principal source for both
Andiew Gilligan's report and for Susan Watts reports on Newsnight on June 2"d and 4th. Over the past few
weeks we have been at pairs 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 continuing speculation, it is
important to reveal this inforrnation as swiftly as poss:ble.

e BBC will fully co-operate with the Govermnent s inquiry. We w11 make a full and frank snbmission to
~-d Hutton and will provide full details of all the contacts between Dr Keily and the two BBC journalists
.uding contemporaneous notes and other materials made by both journalists, independently. We continue
to believe we were right at the time to place Dr Kelly's views in the public domain .

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

Note to editors: We apologise for the late release of this s`-atement . Following the formal identification of
Doctor Kelly-'s body today we have been in contact with his fali-'ri'.y, who are aware this is being released
tonieht.