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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Pair are guilty of Bush memo leak | Pair are guilty of Bush memo leak |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A civil servant and an MP's researcher have been found guilty of leaking a secret memo about talks between George Bush and Tony Blair. | A civil servant and an MP's researcher have been found guilty of leaking a secret memo about talks between George Bush and Tony Blair. |
| David Keogh, 50, from Northampton, has been found guilty of two offences under the Official Secrets Act. | David Keogh, 50, from Northampton, has been found guilty of two offences under the Official Secrets Act. |
| MP's researcher Leo O'Connor was found guilty of one Official Secrets offence. | MP's researcher Leo O'Connor was found guilty of one Official Secrets offence. |
| It recorded Oval Office talks between Mr Bush and Mr Blair about Iraq in 2004, the Old Bailey was told. Sentencing was adjourned for reports. | It recorded Oval Office talks between Mr Bush and Mr Blair about Iraq in 2004, the Old Bailey was told. Sentencing was adjourned for reports. |
| It was claimed in court that publication of the memo could have cost British lives. | It was claimed in court that publication of the memo could have cost British lives. |
| Few details of the "highly sensitive" memo, which is known to have included discussions about military tactics, have been made public. | Few details of the "highly sensitive" memo, which is known to have included discussions about military tactics, have been made public. |
| Judge Mr Justice Aikens told the jury that what they had heard in camera must remain secret. | Judge Mr Justice Aikens told the jury that what they had heard in camera must remain secret. |
| 'Remains secret' | 'Remains secret' |
| He said: "The information you heard in camera, including the contents of the letter and what was said by witnesses about the consequences of the disclosure of the letter, remain confidential - it remains secret." | He said: "The information you heard in camera, including the contents of the letter and what was said by witnesses about the consequences of the disclosure of the letter, remain confidential - it remains secret." |
| The trial heard that Keogh gave the memo to political researcher O'Connor, also from Northampton, at a dining club in the town. The meeting took place in April 2004It was passed to Northampton South MP Anthony Clarke, who called the police. | |
| Keogh's barrister, Rex Tedd QC, said his client had wanted to seek to reveal the truth of what was happening in Iraq while others were trying to conceal that truth. | Keogh's barrister, Rex Tedd QC, said his client had wanted to seek to reveal the truth of what was happening in Iraq while others were trying to conceal that truth. |
| John Farmer, defending O'Connor, said the war in Iraq was "the most controversial foreign affairs involvement of this country since Suez 50 years ago". | John Farmer, defending O'Connor, said the war in Iraq was "the most controversial foreign affairs involvement of this country since Suez 50 years ago". |
| Earlier, O'Connor told the court he had never been "so worried and so fearful" as when he was passed the document. | Earlier, O'Connor told the court he had never been "so worried and so fearful" as when he was passed the document. |
| O'Connor, who worked for anti-war Labour MP Mr Clarke, said he had been approached by Keogh and told about "some quite embarrassing, outlandish statements" in the four-page document. | O'Connor, who worked for anti-war Labour MP Mr Clarke, said he had been approached by Keogh and told about "some quite embarrassing, outlandish statements" in the four-page document. |
| But he told the jury that he took the claims with a "pinch of salt" and he never intended to send copies of the document to newspapers or MPs. | But he told the jury that he took the claims with a "pinch of salt" and he never intended to send copies of the document to newspapers or MPs. |