UK & World News
- 29 May 2012, 1:41
Blair Protester Tells Of His Leveson Intrusion
An activist who stormed into the Leveson Inquiry and branded Tony Blair a war criminal while he was giving evidence has said it was too good an opportunity to miss.
David Lawley Wakelin managed to evade security and access the court room where the former prime minister was sitting through a secure corridor.
He was bundled out of the room and held in custody at a central London police station on suspicion for a breach of the peace.
The 49-year-old was later released without any further action.
Speaking to James O'Brien on LBC 97.3 afterwards, he said: "I stood in a bathroom for five minutes, recalculating what was going to happen to me after I got through the door but then decided that my beef with Tony Blair is too great to miss this opportunity.
"I got in and I said 'this man should be arrested for being a war criminal', and then I made a statement about my evidence to show that in my opinion he is a war criminal.
"Two guys grabbed me from behind and pretty much pulled me backwards out of the court the same way as I had come in... into a waiting police van.
"They didn't cuff me, they didn't arrest me, they didn't charge me or caution me. They took me away for a breach of the peace and asked me to stay away from the Leveson Inquiry," he added.
He appeared to catch security at the Royal Courts of Justice off guard and was able to hurl accusations at Mr Blair before he was bundled away.
As Mr Blair looked on, he said: "JP Morgan paid him off for the Iraq war. Three months after he invaded Iraq, they held up the Iraq bank for 20 billion.
"He was then paid six million dollars every year and still is from JP Morgan six months after he left office. This man is a war criminal."
Lord Justice Leveson immediately ordered an inquiry into the security breach.
Appearing slightly stunned, he said: "I'm sorry for that Mr Blair. I would like to find out how this gentleman managed to access the court through what is supposed to be a secure corridor.
"I will have an investigation undertaken about that immediately. I apologise."
Mr Blair added: "Can I just say on the record what he said about Iraq and JP Morgan is completely and totally untrue. I have never had any discussion with them about that."
The protester was escorted through the Royal Courts of Justice by security guards and was seen being driven away in a police van.
It is understood he managed to get past security-coded doors to access the judges' corridor leading to courtroom 73.
A spokesman for Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service said: "An investigation has been ordered into an incident at the Leveson Inquiry, Royal Courts of Justice. It would be inappropriate to pre-empt the findings of this investigation."
At the start of the afternoon session, Lord Leveson vowed to review security measures to guard against similar incidents.
"Considerable effort has been put into ensuring all witnesses can give their evidence in a safe and secure environment and I very much regret what has happened," he said.
"An investigation is being undertaken and I will be giving consideration to the steps that can be taken and should be taken against this particular intruder.
"Efforts will be redoubled to ensure that incidents of this nature don't recur. I repeat my apologies to Mr Blair and indeed to everyone else who was involved in or following our inquiry."
Later, a second man was arrested by police after eggs were thrown at Mr Blair's convoy as he left the court.
what do you think?
Bob Attoe
conspiracy theories, i guess lady di is sitting with elvis presley at the moment having a sociable drink.
Nick Tansley
and Lord Lucan
Norman Lindsay
Nice to know some believe in life after death. Amy Winehouse might be with them.
Neil C
Scratching my head on this but should we not have had an investigation into Iraq. Blair's b o t t o m went when he tried to plead his plight on that. J P Morgan well well !!!!!
aa aa
I dislike Blair as much as the rest of the country, but don't believe every accusation thrown at him. Some , like yourself , have obviously taken heed of the words this protester said.
Norman Lindsay
Protester's comments could be total invention but read Blair's words of denial. "Can I just say on the record what he said about Iraq and JP Morgan is completely and totally untrue. I have never had any discussion with them about that." No discussion........
Nick Tansley
Lets start another enquiry into how he got in through a secure door?, its obvious he got voted in and walked through, then it went ti*s-up!!!
Norman Lindsay
Are you referring to Blair or the protester?
grahammcneill2
blair caught with your hand s in the till again .would love to know what else you decieved us all about. you could try to make amends for iraq by apoligising to every single mother whose son you sent to there deraths
aa aa
The protester made an accusation. He wasn't producing evidence against Blair, and then delivering a verdict from 12 others. It was an accusation. Mind you , that's enough for some weak minded fools on here. Blair is no angel, but he's not responsible for the worlds problems.What is a derath ?Every single son who went there, and unfortunately died, was an enlisted man in the armed forces. They joined up, and when you enlist in an army, you can get killed. Responsibility for such events is with yourself. To avoid being shot at , don't join the army.
aa aa
Meaning what, exactly , Keith ? You're just one of those people who throws the stones, then runs away. Sound like a right gobshyte to me.
Norman Lindsay
aa aa, I agree with keith, you need to get a life. Youngsters join the forces knowing they may face danger in the defence of their country. Making loadsa money for politicians etc in their retirement who sent them to unnecessary conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan was not in their job description. If you personally have served in the UK forces you're more than entitled to comment. If you have not then do some research before commenting further.
aa aa
Norman, if you are conscripted into a war, you have the right to scream from the rooftops. If you sign up for an army, which is likely to go to war , then you are signing up to fight. If not , you have joined the wrong service. You say Afghsnistan was "not in their job description", . That's complete BS. You don't join the army to go ball room dancing, the clue is in the title. "Army"... a body of fighting men. I do support the lads who go out there and fight , by the way. Not the ones who start moaning when they get shot at....your lot. They shouldn't join an army if they don't want people shooting at them. I have a lot of friends who were in the army, serving in N.I., the Falklands, amongst other places. They don't complain that they were sent to such places. It's people like you that are complaining, and you think that's supporting them. What a plonker.
grahammcneill2
no deal with murdoch blair says is about as believeable as the no deal for oil for mcgraghi with gadaffi
aa aa
do you fall for every half baked accusation ever thrown at a politician.
Norman Lindsay
aa aa, are you a closet MP or have you been living in another dimension for the last few years? Only yesterday there appeared another example of their greed in the form of Warsi's expenses. Long noses, deep troughs.
Alan James Edwards
Whatever you think about the protest, he spoke very clearly, he should have had a job on TV or Radio. I would love to hear what an expert on body language has to say about Tony Blair's arm movements and facial expressions. I was once told it was easy to tell when he was NOT telling the truth, his lips move.
John Henderson
So that's why Camerons move all the time, often wondered.
rfbevan
As far as duplicity goes - I reckon that Mr Blair could have taught Mr Nixon a few tricks.
John Henderson
And what about your beloved Mr. Cameron ?
ken clayton
would the world be a better place if tony blair had not been born??
aa aa
Well , we might still have had Saddam, and his murdering family. I think , as bad as Blair was, i would rather have him than Saddam, or Camoron for that matter.
Norman Lindsay
aa aa, WE never had Saddam, Iraq had Saddam. As far as I'm concerned you can have Blair and all his ilk. I'll even throw in Cameron, Osborne and Hague as a bonus.
John Henderson
It may have been better if Thatcher and Cameron hadn't.
aa aa
Norman, we did have Saddam, we all live on the same planet. Where do you draw the line when it comes to murder. It's not in your back yard, so it never happened. Jeez, what a guy.
aa aa
See the witch hunt has started again. Keeps the tory fingers going a fair bit, does mr blair. Even if all the accusations against Blair are true, and i reckon a lot are, it doesn't raise the publics confidence in the present government, and gladly 2 years is all they have left. Ta ta.
Name witheld
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aa aa
I think the opinion polls said it, and the complete drubbing the co alition got when the country recently voted, actually Jules old chap. Where you asleep?.............................. Oh,and shut up Keith, sticking your oar in then running off. What a piece of work you are.
John Henderson
Just at the moment the present bunch dont look too great do they. Every week another farce. And now the Baroness - Oh dear, when will it end. Oh I forgot, it's Jeremy up next. Gets better all the time.
kyle rambo
Okay, the Leveson inquiry has been going on for a while now. They're collating all this information for War Crimes. Whats gona happen from there? Personally i think it'll be stuck in a filing cabinet and let it gather dust.
Stephen Richards
Some terrible grammar in this piece. For instance, this piece: Appearing slightly stunned, he said: "I'm sorry for that Mr Blair. Should read: Appearing slightly stunned, he said: "I'm sorry for that, Mr Blair.
moreyone
if the grammer in this disturbes you that mutch go and find somthing better to do burk
aa aa
Moreyone. lol lol. it's "grammar", and "disturb", and "much". When people demonstrate their poor English language skills , the way you have , it sort of backfires. Missed out on a bit of schooling, if you can't even spell "much". Thick as a brick, no doubt.
krafty81
aa-aa I think moreyone is taking the mick! People shouldn't be judged on grammar or spelling. At least we're not writing in text!
aa aa
It's unlikely he's taking the mick.
Michael Hastie
Not only is Tony Blair a war criminal, he is a TRAITOR to Britain and the British people, and should be brought up on charges of treason. Just like a criminals all money belonging to the Blair family should be frozen until we find out just where the millions came from.
aa aa
Why don't you make a formal accusation , then. Instead of gobbing off accusations all over the internet, where it is unlikely you will ever be challenged. Another armchair judge and jury. It is pretty clear the man earns a lot of money, from books etc. It may be distasteful, but it's not illegal. Get a grip.
Michael Hastie
I would also like to see a proper public investigation into the murder of Dr. David Kelly the weapons expert. The secret files on the murder that Blair order sealed for 100 years should be opened NOW!
aa aa
Blair ordered sealed for 100 years... lol lol lol. You just make this garbage up to fit your argument, which is basically born of hatred and jealousy. You sound like a right idiot. He's no angel, and needs to answer for his deeds , but you lot just make stuff up, and it's laughable. Must be the Tory in your blood.
Norman Lindsay
aa aa, Whether the grammar be correct or not, your form of sink estate insult response is no substitute for debate. It just serves to demonstrate your own lack of depth of vocabulary.
moreyone
i know this is not the way to protest but i can understand why this man is a war criminal we the public realise this but we have been unable to do any thing about it he is definitely a liar and shyster a man of cleaver words and no morals but we can do nothing he is to well protected he is certainly a man of ill repute
Bernard Petrie
I don't know what Tony Blair has or has not done. But he sure is getting a bad time on here, Why? What ever happened to innocent before guilty? Are we all vigilantes now?
Name witheld
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aa aa
Yes Bernard, listen to Keith. He has all the evidence to prove what he is saying. Well actually, he can't support a thing he says, but if the press say a mans guilty, then Keith is satisfied. Typical Sun reader. The dangerous thing to come from comments like his, is that people have been judged in criminal courts, by juries made up of such people. No wonder people get wrongly imprisoned. Keith, if a man is accused of something , or he doesn't float, that doesn't mean he is guilty. This isn't the dark ages.
Timmy Turtle
Well aa aa, For someone who says they support the "innocent until proven guilty" line, you seem to have passed judgement on a whole lot of subscribers!
Norman Lindsay
For once I agree with aa aa. Innocent until proven guilty is sacrosanct and we can only hope that the politicians never get away with trying to change it by the back door. The problem we have is that, in order to prove Blair guilty he has to be tried in court. This would be difficult in the UK with the powerful friends and contacts he still has. As for the Hague War Crimes Court, you only need to look at the recent co ck-up in the trial of the Serb war criminal. Does anyone here doubt HIS guilt? Even aa aa might have trouble with that one.
aa aa
I'm only pointing the finger at the witch hunters, and you well know it.Timmy !
aa aa
Norman, i'm not so naive to believe that Blair is guilty , nor the Serb. What i do believe is that Blair should be held accountable in a court of law, and not on some internet web site, full of bitter and twisted, green eyed monsters. I don't doubt either the serb or blair are guilty, i just can't prove it. Unlike the wise men on here. We have a process in this country that prevents us from being thrown in gaol, just on the strength of an accusation. Some of you lot might need that system to work one day.
aa aa
Norman , you say "for once i agree with aa aa ". As if i'm some troll, that objects to everything, just for an argument.. I'm the only one keeping a level head on here. It's the hysterical mob that need putting straight.
John Henderson
Well, whatever next. They cannot even organise security at the Royal Courts of Justice. British efficiency at its very best.
john
I remember Blair's words prior to the Iraq invasion, " I am willing to pay the blood price" he said, willing to fight to the last drop of someone else's blood that is, the "man" should be wearing a straightjacket in a padded cell.
Name witheld
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George Clement
Having been censored by orange in the past for comments a lot milder in matter on various issues, I cannot understand now how orange has allowed some of the comments and unproven allegations to appear in this forum. To me it's quite obvious orange are anti Blair.
Name witheld
11:58am on 28/5/2012
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