Select Committee on Standards and Privileges First Report


APPENDIX 87

Letter from Mr Timothy O'Sullivan to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards

  Thank you for your letter of 27 January about Neil Hamilton, Mohamed Al-Fayed and The Guardian.

  My recollection of these matters remains exact and vivid. I have no amendments, additions or changes to make to the statement I gave to Ruth Collard at Messrs Peter Carter-Ruck.

Timothy O'Sullivan

28 January 1997

  I, TIMOTHY FRANCIS O'SULLIVAN of 8 Watchbell Street, Rye, East Sussex TN31 7HA will say as follows:

  1. I am a writer. I have published a number of books, chiefly of a historical or biographical nature.

  2. In 1987-88 I was planning a book about the Royal Household and royal servants in particular. The latter were to include Sidney Johnson, who had been butler to the Duke and Duchess of Windsor for many years, and who had continued to work for Mohamed Al-Fayed, after Mr Al-Fayed had acquired the Windsors' Paris house, there and at his flat in London. I was aware that Neil Hamilton, who has been a friend of mine for at least 15 years, knew Mohamed Al-Fayed and I asked Neil if he could arrange for me to meet Sidney Johnson. A meeting was duly arranged for 24 May 1988 at Mr Al-Fayed's flat at 60 Park Lane, at noon. Sidney Johnson talked to Neil and I about his life and work with the Windsors, and answered questions. I can confirm the date as I still have my 1988 appointments diary, which records this. Mr Al-Fayed was not present.

  3. Talking a while later to Neil about Sidney Johnson and Mr Al-Fayed, we discussed the fact that there could be very interesting books to be written about

  (1)   the Paris Ritz;

  (2)   the Windsors' Paris house and

  (3)   Harrods.

  Neil mentioned these ideas to Mr Al-Fayed and presently he invited Neil and me to Harrods for a preliminary discussion. My appointments diary records that this meeting took place on Monday 20 February 1989. Neil and I went to Mr Al-Fayed's office at Harrods where the meeting began shortly after 5 p.m. We had an amicable and animated discussion, in which I did most of the talking. At the end, I gave Mr Al-Fayed a copy of a biography of Thomas Hardy, the most successful of my books up to that time.

  4. Throughout the time we spent at Harrods, Neil and I were constantly in each other's company. In particular, Neil was not at any time alone with Mr Al-Fayed. Mr Al-Fayed did not at any time during the visit give Neil any money, whether in the form of cash, cheques or otherwise. Nor did Mr Al-Fayed give Neil any vouchers. In fact, I do not believe any papers passed between those at the meeting other than the book I have previously mentioned.

  5. The contents of this Statement are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Timothy Francis

O'Sullivan

26 June 1995



 
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