The Sun’s former chief reporter has been described as “the most significant journalist as far as the army is concerned in the country”, by a retired major general who was responsible for media relations.
Sir Sebastian Roberts said this was how his predecessor described John Kay when he became director of public relations for the army in 1999.
“I knew my predecessor had been entirely right,” Robert said of his subsequent dealings with Kay.
The 71-year-old journalist is on trial over allegations he made unlawful payments to a Ministry of Defence official over an eight-year period between 2004 and 2012.
Kay has denied the charges.
Roberts described Kay as “a consummate professional” who had “the most profound sympathy for the army and its people”.
He told jurors that he was one of three directors of public relations in the defence forces, with the other two heading up sizeable teams in the Royal Navy and the RAF.
In 2004, a decision was taken by the government to centralise media relations, with control ultimately held in Downing Street with Alastair Campbell “most famously in charge”.
“It meant, for good or ill, that the capacity of individual soldiers and their families to have their side of the story heard when it came to matters that were in the media was reduced,” said Roberts.
“When I was working with people like John, our main aim was to look after the reputation of people. Subsequently, the main emphasis was on policy,” he said.
Asked by prosecutor Michael Parroy QC what he would have thought if any of his staff were selling stories behind his back, Roberts replied: “I’d have thought it was disgraceful and wrong.”
Roberts, who was the last director of communications in the army, had a team of 150 soldiers and civil servants working under him between 1999 and 2001.
Roberts was one of two character witnesses who appeared for Kay. Earlier, another former army officer, Oliver Doherty, said Kay had a positive effect on his soldiers in the 1st Battalion, Irish Guards.
He recalled how Kay wrote about one of his troops on duty at Buckingham Palace. The report revealed a soldier who was 7ft 2in tall and 9ft with his bearskin had to be removed from duties when it rained because he couldn’t fit in the sentry box.
Asked how his troops reacted to the story? “They thought it was brilliant. The guardsmen had a letter from as far away as Australia … they thought it was very exciting.”
