BBC chief intervenes on Gilligan health fears

NY Times ^ | July 24, 2003 | James Blitz, Tim Burt and Jean Eaglesham

[RippleFire]

The publication of evidence from the BBC journalist at the heart of the David Kelly affair was delayed yesterday following a personal plea from the corporation's chairman that publication might affect the journalist's health.

In a surprise move, the Commons foreign affairs select committee said it would not publish the transcript of last Thursday's evidence session with BBC journalist Andrew Gilligan that ended with the committee expressing serious doubts about his reliability as a witness.

Although the committee had pledged to publish the evidence this week, it reluctantly decided not to do so after Gavyn Davies, the BBC chairman, privately contacted Donald Anderson, the committee's chairman.

...

Mr Davies' office said the BBC chairman had told Mr Anderson in a letter that Mr Gilligan was "stressed".

[RippleFire]

I guess being a lying sleazebag could be stressful. Poor baby!

[woofie]

bump

[Sacajaweau]

They weren't too concerned with Mr. Kelly's health??

[Thane_Banquo]

[MEG33]

Woe is me..sounds like playing on fears since Kelly's suicide is a sleazy excuse.

[Athelas]

Thanks for posting that pic. Ever since this deal started I've been seeing that guy as a stumblebum like Gilligan from that show.

Except this guy, with his obvious dishonesty and slanting, in the position he's in, is actually dangerous. Or was. Now he's just a joke. The BBC better wake up or they're going to lose their sugar subsidy. Time for them to kiss-up, fade back for a while.

But Libs never know when to stop do they?

[OldFriend]

I just love to see the BBC swinging in the wind!

[beckett]

I find it quite funny that the Times stuck what should have been a front page story about an Iraq War cover-up perpetrated by its fellow liberal media giant, the BBC, in the business section!

[Mike Darancette]

I thought Gardening Holidays were restful.

[88keys]

This is rather unhelpful to Dr. Kelly at this point, isn't it...

/ sarcastic rhetorical question

The plot thickens...

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Mark Steyn mocks the Brit clymers, including Andrew Gilligan:

JMark Steyn: BBC World News - now with all content guaranteed sexed down 
   The Telegraph (U.K.) ^ | 07/26/03 | Mark Steyn

[wildbill]

I have a theory that the reason Kelly committed suicide is that he'd been notified by the BBC that he was going to be identified as the informer.

Since he'd denied the basis for the BBC story before a committee, Kelly would have been revealed as a perjurer if the BBC really has tapes of the disputed information.