Ian McDonald
 Ian McDonald    (civil servant) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 29 March 1936 |
| Died | 28 March 2019 (Age 82) |
| Alma mater | University of Glasgow, Royal College of Defence Studies |
Ian McDonald famously told the Scott Inquiry: “Truth is a very difficult concept” | |
Ian McDonald was a civil servant in the UK's Ministry of Defence and was the Ministry's spokesman during the Falklands War, when he became renowned for his restrained, and at times emotionless, style of delivery.
Archive footage by Forces News, at the time known as BFBS, shows McDonald, in his typical monotone, announcing that British forces had taken Darwin in the Falklands:
- "We have just learned that the 2nd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment," McDonald said slowly, before he paused, and added, "has taken Darwin and Goose Green."[1]
Arms-to-Iraq
On 16 November 1992, a judicial inquiry was commissioned to investigate the Arms-to-Iraq affair and was conducted by Lord Justice of Appeal Sir Richard Scott.
Ian McDonald was head of the Ministry of Defence DESO secretariat during the Arms-to-Iraq affair and came in for heavy criticism when the Scott Report was published on 15 February 1996:[2]
- At the Ministry of Defence, Sir Richard has left in tatters the management career of Ian McDonald, the official best known for his opaque pronouncements as spokesman during the Falklands War.
- The Scott Report said Mr McDonald, who was head of the Defences Export Services Secretariat, neglected to give a proper briefing to the then Secretary of State, Sir George Younger, on the changed guidelines for arms exports.
- In dealing with a key submission on Matrix Churchill to Lord Trefgarne, then Minister of State, Sir Richard said Mr McDonald showed "inattention ... consistent with his general approach to line management".
- He also showed himself unable to make input into key policy decisions.[3]
“Truth is a very difficult concept”
Ian McDonald, the Ministry of Defence’s official spokesman during the Falklands War, told the Arms-to-Iraq inquiry: “Truth is a very difficult concept.”[4]
References
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