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Dr David Kelly inquest ruling challenge fails Dr David Kelly inquest ruling challenge fails
(40 minutes later)
A bid to bring a High Court challenge over the attorney general's refusal to give his consent for a new inquest into the death of Dr David Kelly has failed.A bid to bring a High Court challenge over the attorney general's refusal to give his consent for a new inquest into the death of Dr David Kelly has failed.
Government scientist Dr Kelly was found dead in July 2003 aged 59 after he was exposed as the source of a BBC story about Iraq intelligence.Government scientist Dr Kelly was found dead in July 2003 aged 59 after he was exposed as the source of a BBC story about Iraq intelligence.
Campaigners had sought a judicial review of the decision.Campaigners had sought a judicial review of the decision.
The attorney general ruled this out in June, saying evidence that Dr Kelly killed himself was "overwhelming".The attorney general ruled this out in June, saying evidence that Dr Kelly killed himself was "overwhelming".
Attorney General Dominic Grieve concluded that there was no possibility that any inquest would reach any other verdict than suicide and rejected claims of a "cover-up". Attorney General Dominic Grieve concluded there was no possibility that any inquest would reach any other verdict than suicide, and he rejected claims of a "cover-up".
His conclusion followed a report published by Lord Hutton which judged that Dr Kelly had committed suicide. His decision followed a report published by Lord Hutton which judged that Dr Kelly had committed suicide.
But a group of doctors said Hutton's ruling was unsafe, claiming the evidence did not point to suicide. They mounted a long-running campaign for the inquest to be re-opened.
'Not justice''Not justice'
On Monday, Mr Justice Nicol, sitting in London, refused David Halpin, a retired orthopaedic surgeon and one of a group of doctors campaigning for a new inquest, permission to seek a ruling that the attorney general had acted "unlawfully and irrationally". On Monday, Mr Justice Nicol refused permission for one of the group, retired orthopaedic surgeon David Halpin, to seek a ruling that the attorney general had acted "unlawfully and irrationally".
As the decision was announced there were cries of "shame" and "this is not justice" from members of the public.As the decision was announced there were cries of "shame" and "this is not justice" from members of the public.
Dr Kelly's body was found in woods near his home in Oxfordshire, after he was exposed as the source of a controversial BBC report casting doubt on the government's claim that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction capable of being fired within 45 minutes.
The report led to a fierce row between the BBC and the then Labour government.
An inquest was opened but suspended when the Hutton Inquiry was set up in 2004 to look into the circumstances of Dr Kelly's death.
Its report concluded Dr Kelly had killed himself by cutting an artery in his wrist.
New dossier
In March this year, the campaigners handed to Mr Grieve a new dossier containing details about the absence of fingerprints on items found near his body.
But Mr Grieve concluded in June that the inquiry was "tantamount to an inquest". He said could not find any legal basis for referring the case to the High Court, which has the legal authority to order an inquest.
His department published full medical and pathology reports on Dr Kelly's death.
In September, the campaigners lodged papers to seek a judicial review of the decision not to hold a new inquest.