MP APPLIES TO SEE MI5 OFFICER AWAITING TRIAL

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP96B01172R000300020023-3
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 28, 2005
• Sequence Number: 23
• Publication Date: March 26, 1984
• Content Type: NSPR

Bell to see Attorney-General
witnesses, purportedly on
grounds of national security,
that may be vital to his de-
fence. .
On March 9 Mr Bell, a bar-
rister, received a letter from
Mr Bettaney expressing these
fears and saying that he was
considering refusing to take
part in the proceedings.
The trial, due to begin on
April 10, is to be held in
camera except for part of the
opening prosecution speech by
the Attorney-General, Sir
Michael Havers, and the ver-
dict.
The panel of prospective
jurors for the trial is being
vetted on a political basis by
M15 and the police special
branch, another aspect of the
case which concerns Mr Bell.
The checks carried out in
this process treat as "subver-
sive" members of the peace
movement, elements of the
Labour Party deemed " extrem.
ist " or people associated with
industrial militancy. Anyone
identified in one of these cate- It ledge is matter know.
gories could be debarred from mon view this that
must
jury service. override that possibility"
Mr Larry Grant, Mr Bet- Mr Grant commented that
taney's solicitor, said last night his client's letter to Mr Bell
that although the names of the " highlights some of the prob-
prospective jurors had been ;ems we face."
made available to the defence, The charges against Mr Bet.
as required by the Attorney- taney include one of communi-
General's guidelines on vetting, t p, pe~ y,~
Approved F l-'Reltaseb2065IG80r3 ;nC 1 V bf~ g VIM
the process. ligence services operating in
My client has instructed us the UK.
to discuss concern over case
MP applies to
see M15 officer
awaiting trial
By Ian Black not to take part in jury vetting
and Nick Davies in any way," Mr Grant said.
An MP is applying to the ^First, he .is opposed_to it in
5UYC111U1 UL DrlxtUn rrison ror the very root of the jury sys.
permission to visit Michael tem - namely the selection of
Bettaney, the M15 officer await- a jury chosen at random.
ling trial on six charges under . "Secondly, even if we were
the Official Secrets Act. to attempt to vet the jury the'
defence does not have the
M!r Stuart Bell, Labour MP same facilities for making in.
for Middlesbrough and vice- quiries as the prosecution.
chairman of his party's home "To participate would re-
affairs 'committee, said last duce the process to a farce, as
night that he hoped to see Mr any objections to members of
Bettaney after meeting the the jury by the defence would
Attorney-General this week to be bound to be based. ion un-
discuss the case. , reliable information, tittle-tat-
The MP is concerned that tle and gossip."
Mr Bettaney, the first member The Sunday Times yesterday,
of the security service ever to published extracts from Mr
be charged with spying, may Bettaney's letter to the MP,
not have a fair trial because of but, on legal advice, excised all
the exclusion of evidence and reference to the pre-trial re-
view held by Lord Lane, the
Lord Chief Justice. It was then
that directions were given to
prosecuting and defence coun-'
sel about the manner in which
the trial is to be conducted.
Mr Bell yesterday sent the
letter to the Press Association,
but the agency said it had
" been advised that it cannot
properly disclose its contents."
Some lawyers, including those
advising the Guardian, believe
that to publish it in full consti-
tutes a contempt of court.
Mr Bell said yesterday: " I
have issued this letter with the
utmost reluctance. The fact
that I've held on to it for two
weeks is an indication of my
own deep concern thatI might
somehow be interfering with
the process of justice.
" At the end of the day,
however, I have to look at my
parliamentary duty and say to
myself: 'Are we setting oreee-
dents in this matter which the
public ought to be aware of.?'