Christopher Galley and Damian Green MP
Publication date: 1 December 2008
Neil O’May, Mr Christopher Galley’s solicitor says:
“There has been much speculation and rumour circulating in the last few days following the arrest of Mr Damian Green MP, the search of Mr Green’s offices and home, and his interview with police under caution.
We want to put the record straight.
Mr Christopher Galley first met Damian Green in the Houses of Parliament in 2006. He was in contact with Mr Green over the following two years, including further meetings with him.
As a result, Mr Galley gave Damian Green MP information which was important for the public to know in an open and democratic Parliamentary system.
As the shadow minister for immigration and as a Member of Parliament, Damian Green received the information in the same spirit and used it in his parliamentary duties. In providing this information for a shadow minister, Mr Galley believed that it would be used in a wholly responsible manner in the public interest.
As a consequence, Mr Christopher Galley was arrested by antiterrorist officers in a dawn raid at his home on
19th November. He was held under arrest at a police station for 17 hours and only released after exhaustive questioning by police.Throughout, Mr Galley was open and cooperative, and indeed, he himself volunteered the whereabouts of his computer, his mobile phone and the documents that the police needed for their enquiries when asked.
Those who initiated the police investigation and those who sanctioned the use of these powers of arrest and search against a civil servant who gave information directly to an MP, should consider whether this was a necessary and proportionate way of dealing with this kind of allegation.
If ever there is a case of ‘don’t shoot the messenger’, this is it.
Mr Galley is on bail to return to the police station in January for further interview, or for a decision on his case. Since he is still under police investigation, he is unable to answer any questions, or make any statement about the affair. I hope you will respect that.”
Neil O’May is a Partner and Head of the Criminal Law Department at London law firm Bindmans LLP.
For further information, please contact:
Martin Rackstraw
Associate
Criminal Law Department
Bindmans LLP
m.rackstraw@bindmans.com
Tel: 020 7833 4433
or
Neil O’May
Partner and Head of the Criminal Law Department
Bindmans LLP
n.o'may@bindmans.com
Tel: 020 7833 4433
