Letter from Mr Richard Ferguson QC to
the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards
I have returned all my papers in the case of
Ian Greer and Neil Hamilton against The Guardian. Therefore
I have to give this account from memory and without the opportunity
of checking it.
On Thursday 26 September 1996 and Friday 27
September I had conferences in my Chambers with my Junior - Ms
Victoria Sharp, my solicitor and Mr and Mrs Hamilton. Mr Hamilton
was appraised of the most recent disclosures in the ongoing discovery
affecting Mr Greer's claim. These seemed to indicate that Mr Greer
had underestimated the extent of his payments to MPs and might
well have misled the Parliamentary Committee. Both Mr and Mrs
Hamilton were outraged at what they regarded as a culpable lack
of frankness by Mr Greer. They took the view that he had seriously
jeopardised their prospects of success. They were extremely annoyed
that they had been encouraged to proceed with the litigation
ignorant of these matters. They expressed their disgust in very
strong terms. It seemed to me that the strength of their feelings
and the manner in which they expressed them made it impossible
to continue to represent both clients. I expressed this concern
to my solicitor. He was in complete agreement.
Instructions were withdrawn. In effect this
meant we could take no further part in the proceedings. As it
happened I was requested to continue to act as a conduit pipe
so far as any negotiations were concerned. As a precautionary
measure I sought the assistance of the Bar Council as to the circumstances
in which I could continue to act for one Plaintiff in the event
of such a request being made. I must make it absolutely clear
that there was no question of anything being revealed to me which
I was asked to conceal from the defendant's lawyers.
Richard Ferguson
QC 13 March 1997
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