Reporter Given Six Months For Contempt

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30041, 28 January 1963, Page 7

Reporter Given Six Months For Contempt

(N-ZJ*^.-Reuter—Copyright)

LONDON, January 25.

The High Court today gave a London reporter 10 days to disclose his source of security information or go to prison for six months.

The Lord Chief Justice (Lord Parker) made the order against the “Daily Sketch" defence correspondent, Desmond Clough, aged 34

He ordered that Clough should be imprisoned for six months for contempt of Court for refusing to tell a tribunal investigating naval security his source for a report on a security leakage. But the order—technically called a “writ of attachment” —would be suspended for 10 days to give Clough another chance to reveal the source or to appeal. Lord Parker said.

A spokesman for Clough's legal representatives said afterwards there would cer-

tainly be an appeal. Lord Parker yesterday ruled that Clough had been guilty of contempt of Court. Today, Lord Parker, before passing sentence on Clough, said he had come to the conclusion that he could not

impose “a merely nominal sentence."

The failure of Clough to answer queotaono would prevent the tribunal tram obtaining information which they required. Lord Parker said. Clough was minded certainly at present to adhere to his present course of conduct whatever the High Court or the Court of Appeal or the House of Lords, assuming the case went that far, might decide.

If the tribunal should get the required information from any other source, or the respondent should relent and give that information. Lord Parker thought—although it was not a matter for him—some remission of the sentence would be justified. When the Attorney-General (Sir John Hobson) asked for costs. Mr R. V. Cusack, for the defence, submitted such an order should not be made since the matter was one of constitutional significance which the Crown desired to test as much as anybody else. Lord Parker said the Attorney - General was entitled to the costs but that did not mean the order would be enforced.