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Rushdie anger at policeman's book | Rushdie anger at policeman's book |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Sir Salman Rushdie is threatening to sue a former police bodyguard who has written a book about protecting the author while he was in hiding. | Sir Salman Rushdie is threatening to sue a former police bodyguard who has written a book about protecting the author while he was in hiding. |
The award-winning writer is furious at the way he has been portrayed by Ron Evans in On Her Majesty's Service. | The award-winning writer is furious at the way he has been portrayed by Ron Evans in On Her Majesty's Service. |
Mr Evans was among the officers who guarded Sir Salman after The Satanic Verses led to death threats in 1989. | Mr Evans was among the officers who guarded Sir Salman after The Satanic Verses led to death threats in 1989. |
The author told BBC News the claims were "a bunch of lies" and he was seriously considering legal action. | The author told BBC News the claims were "a bunch of lies" and he was seriously considering legal action. |
Sir Salman said the book was defamatory and is demanding that the offending chapters be removed. | Sir Salman said the book was defamatory and is demanding that the offending chapters be removed. |
The Booker Prize-winning author received police protection after a fatwa was issued by Ayatollah Khomeini, Iran's spiritual leader. | The Booker Prize-winning author received police protection after a fatwa was issued by Ayatollah Khomeini, Iran's spiritual leader. |
Mr Evans worked as a driver in the protection unit. He was also a bodyguard for John Major and other high-profile figures. | Mr Evans worked as a driver in the protection unit. He was also a bodyguard for John Major and other high-profile figures. |
I was never locked in a cupboard nor was I suicidal - none of these things happened Sir Salman Rushdie | I was never locked in a cupboard nor was I suicidal - none of these things happened Sir Salman Rushdie |
In the book, he claims Sir Salman was nicknamed "Scruffy" and was once locked in a cupboard because he irritated his protection officers. They then all went to the pub. | In the book, he claims Sir Salman was nicknamed "Scruffy" and was once locked in a cupboard because he irritated his protection officers. They then all went to the pub. |
He wrote: "When they were suitably refreshed they came back and let him out." | He wrote: "When they were suitably refreshed they came back and let him out." |
He also claims the author charged officers around £40 a night to stay in his home and would also ask for money if they drank his wine. | He also claims the author charged officers around £40 a night to stay in his home and would also ask for money if they drank his wine. |
In the memoirs, Mr Evans writes: "We were paying, or rather, the taxpayer was paying Rushdie to protect him!" | In the memoirs, Mr Evans writes: "We were paying, or rather, the taxpayer was paying Rushdie to protect him!" |
'Extremely friendly' | 'Extremely friendly' |
Sir Salman replied: "He's made up a whole bunch of lies. | Sir Salman replied: "He's made up a whole bunch of lies. |
"I became extremely friendly and fond of the police officers who protected me. | "I became extremely friendly and fond of the police officers who protected me. |
"They were extremely scrupulous and would never behave so cruelly to me, get drunk on duty or do anything else he has said. | "They were extremely scrupulous and would never behave so cruelly to me, get drunk on duty or do anything else he has said. |
"At the end of my nine years of protection, they even held a party for me. | "At the end of my nine years of protection, they even held a party for me. |
"He has not checked his facts. I was never locked in a cupboard nor was I suicidal. None of these things happened. | "He has not checked his facts. I was never locked in a cupboard nor was I suicidal. None of these things happened. |
"The first I heard about the book was three weeks ago when a senior police officer called to warn me it was coming out. | "The first I heard about the book was three weeks ago when a senior police officer called to warn me it was coming out. |
"He said the force was humiliated, apologetic and embarrassed about it." | "He said the force was humiliated, apologetic and embarrassed about it." |
Rent money | Rent money |
Sir Salman said he was paid rent for officers who stayed in his houses but that he never asked for the money. | Sir Salman said he was paid rent for officers who stayed in his houses but that he never asked for the money. |
He said it had been offered by the police, who would otherwise have had to pay for more expensive lodgings nearby. | He said it had been offered by the police, who would otherwise have had to pay for more expensive lodgings nearby. |
He said: "I am not in the business of suppressing books. I just want the stuff taken out of which he knows to be untrue. | He said: "I am not in the business of suppressing books. I just want the stuff taken out of which he knows to be untrue. |
"Whenever I write something, I always want to make sure that what I write is defensible. That doesn't seem to be the case here." | |
We regret that he chooses to publish this book Metropolitan Police Service | We regret that he chooses to publish this book Metropolitan Police Service |
Sir Salman said he remembered Mr Evans but the man had not made any overall impression on him. | Sir Salman said he remembered Mr Evans but the man had not made any overall impression on him. |
He said: "This is not just my reputation at stake. Apart from making me look bad, he's made the entire police force look bad. | He said: "This is not just my reputation at stake. Apart from making me look bad, he's made the entire police force look bad. |
"I am taking the action because I feel loyal towards those people who risked their lives for me. | "I am taking the action because I feel loyal towards those people who risked their lives for me. |
"They are being accused of all sorts of things and yet no-one seems to be defending them." | "They are being accused of all sorts of things and yet no-one seems to be defending them." |
Legal action | Legal action |
Sir Salman is considering legal action against Mr Evans, his co-writer Douglas Thompson and publisher John Blake Publishing Ltd. | Sir Salman is considering legal action against Mr Evans, his co-writer Douglas Thompson and publisher John Blake Publishing Ltd. |
In 2005, Mr Evans was convicted on nine counts of false accounting and ordered to pay £6,280.85 in fines and costs. | In 2005, Mr Evans was convicted on nine counts of false accounting and ordered to pay £6,280.85 in fines and costs. |
A statement from the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) about the book said Mr Evans had not been asked to sign a confidentiality agreement. | A statement from the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) about the book said Mr Evans had not been asked to sign a confidentiality agreement. |
"It is not our intention to comment on Ron Evans' recollection and interpretation of specific events. We regret that he chooses to publish this book," the MPS said. | "It is not our intention to comment on Ron Evans' recollection and interpretation of specific events. We regret that he chooses to publish this book," the MPS said. |
"There were a number of passages within the draft which caused [us] concern. Following legal advice we negotiated with the publishers to make some alterations." | "There were a number of passages within the draft which caused [us] concern. Following legal advice we negotiated with the publishers to make some alterations." |
The publishing house has declined to comment. Ron Evans and Douglas Thompson were unavailable for comment. | The publishing house has declined to comment. Ron Evans and Douglas Thompson were unavailable for comment. |