Blackmail Accused Told Journalist: 'Royal Took Drugs'
Written by Joanne Leyland
Wednesday, 16 April 2008
The
Old Bailey trial of two men accused of blackmailing a minor member of the House
of Windsor has heard how the defendants alleged that the royal in question had used drugs.
Ian Strachan, who is standing trial with co-accused Sean McGuigan, attempted to
sell the story of alleged drug use to a tabloid journalist.
However, newspapers refused to publish the allegations.
It was then that the defendants are alleged to have blackmailed the junior royal and demanded a payment of £50,000 to
stop them publicly releasing a recording in which it was claimed the
royal had performed a gay sex act.
It was also alleged that an aide to the royal figure took cocaine.
The minor royal, who is referred to in court as 'Witness A', cannot be named
in Britain due to legal reasons.
Both defendants deny the charges and the case continues.
Comment: I am surprised though this sort of thing hasn't happened sooner considering the caliber of some of the "Royal" hangers on, one example coming to mind is the incident where Will's mates pulled Will's trousers down in public at Peter's stag do. Out of context that picture on its own merit could be taken out of context, that is the sort of thing that can happen, and it is incredibly unfair.
Name: Monika
Comment: I'm not a lawyer so I will not attempt to expand on this, but I know that when this story first came to light, Joanne made a simple plea where she explained the following:
"Please appreciate that this story incorporates serious legal implications and so no comments even hinting at the possible identity of the unnamed royal will be published."
It is what it is and, IMHO, we shouldn't "go there."
Name: M-M
Comment: LittleMo Comment: Can someone please explain to me what the 'legal reasons' are ? _________________
There is a legal embargo on printing anything scandalous about the RF in the UK . Editors can be sued for enormous sums if they break it .
However these items can be and are freely published in foreign papers and on the Internet . The name of this scandalous minor Royal is well known - but it is still not published in the British newspapers , and the court proceedings are being conducted in utter secrecy .
Name: anyacat
Comment: Can someone please explain to me what the 'legal reasons' are ?
Legal injunction baring publication but if you are really interested, you can do an online search and find all the details, including the name of the royal involved.
Name: LittleMo
Comment: Can someone please explain to me what the 'legal reasons' are ?
Name: exploora
Comment: I think though the big risk is some of these people they hang out with, or possibly more correctly, the people who hang on to them.
Both Wills and Harry work during the day just the way normal people do, and whatever they do privately should stay private. These little web cams and cel phone cameras could put anyone at risk, not just the royals.
I mean everyone goes potty, but that fact alone does not mean a person wants this frequent personal event to be published and shared on a global scale.
So I guess they ( all the members of the RF) have to figure out how guarded they want to be, and possibly will grow more guarded as they grow older and gain more experience.
Name: anyacat
Comment: There are senior members of the Royal Family, such as the Queen and her immediate family, and junior (or minor) members and other more distant relatives (such as cousins).
The story about George Smith and his accusations cannot be published in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, but it has been written about extensively in the Republic of Ireland and Italy and on some Internet websites. The story does not implicate any member of the Royal Family by name. Smith, a former footman and valet in the Royal Household of Prince Charles, told the story Diana and it is said she taped the interview, but the tape has never been found. Neither the police or the press, both of whom investigated the accusations found them creditable. Only the Mail on Sunday defended Smith.
Gossip, especially sexual innuendo and the Royal Household, has legs and is always believed regardless of what information becomes available after these stories are investigated.
Name: Monika
Comment: Colleen, IMO Harry has a sharper memory.
Name: colleen
Comment: I dont understand they are saying the Royal in question is married and has children does a minor Royal mean hes not an important royal. Remember Diana mentioned at one time about gay sex in the royal household I think the tapes disappeared. More and more with all this sleaze coming out and the behavior of the Royals she just knew so much and they tried to pass her off as crazy. How courageous darling Diana was to have survived in that household as long as she did. I hope her boys arent caught up in their unhealthy lifestyle. Harry is known as the badboy but I more and more have uneasy feelings about William more than Harry.
