High praise for Lord Hutton

Lord Hutton's handling of the inquiry into the death of Dr David Kelly provided a positive image of a profession often decried, one of the UK's most senior judges has said.

Lord Cullen, who chaired the inquiries into the Dunblane shootings, the Piper Alpha disaster and the Ladbroke Grove rail crash, said the retiring law lord's inquiry "reflected great credit" on the legal world.

Lord Cullen: Praise for Lord Hutton

"So frequently one hears that judges are elderly and out of touch, but when something important comes along, where some inquiry is necessary, it is to the judges that the executive turns," he said.

Lord Cullen, Scotland's most senior judge, was giving his insights on the experience of heading an inquiry to BBC News Online.

He will not be drawn, though, on whether he thinks those to whom he delivered his reports really listened.

"When I have finished my work and handed in my report and it's published my duties are at an end," he says.

"I have to go back to my normal work. It's rather like the ancient Roman Cincinnatus; when he finished his work as being a person in high authority, he simply went back to the plough."

Cincinnatus, legend has it, had been appointed dictator in order to defend the Romans from the Aequi.

He heard the news of his appointment while working on his farm, took up the challenge and defeated the Aequi, but then gave up his new title after 16 days and returned to his fields.

It is with this example in mind that Lord Cullen has retreated back to what he calls "his normal life" after his roles in the spotlight as chairman of a major inquiry.

The recommendations stemming from the Cullen report have been very instrumental in changing approaches to safety in Britain and abroad Mark Wheeler Health and Safety Executive

Others, of course, have their views on the impact of his work. Mark Wheeler of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said Lord Cullen's report on the Piper Alpha disaster was hugely influential.

More than 160 people died in an explosion on the oil platform in 1988.

Mr Wheeler said regulations for the offshore industry were overhauled in line with the Cullen recommendations - and the shake-up has been considered a significant success.

The 1999 Ladbroke Grove crash claimed 31 lives

"The recommendations stemming from the Cullen report have been very instrumental in changing approaches to safety in Britain and abroad," he said.

As for the recommendations coming out of the Ladbroke Grove inquiry, Mr Wheeler said time will tell as the subsequent changes take effect.

Thirty-one people died in the accident near Paddington Station in 1999.

Lord Cullen was also appointed to chair the inquiry after 16 children and their teacher were shot dead by Thomas Hamilton in Dunblane in March 1996.

Distressing

His recommendations led to fundamental changes over the ownership of handguns.

The horrifying details of such devastating incidents naturally affected him.

"Some of the events are extremely distressing and you can't fail to be affected by the feelings they have brought about," he said.

Lord Hutton reflected great credit on himself and on those such as judges who are called upon to do such work Lord Cullen

"But on the other hand, all one's training as a lawyer involves looking objectively as possible at the evidence and getting on with it - it does sound rather harsh but ...that is what we are trained to do."

Lord Cullen's experience in a role similar to that experienced by Lord Hutton means he is well placed to understand what was needed when the inquiry into Dr David Kelly's death was being held.

"My own impression is that in the way in which that inquiry was conducted, Lord Hutton reflected great credit on himself and on those such as judges who are called upon to do such work," said Lord Cullen.

One of Lord Cullen's primary concerns when heading an inquiry was to ensure that witnesses were treated fairly.

And when it came to whether the Ladbroke Grove inquiry should be televised, Lord Cullen took a similar decision to that made by Lord Hutton for that reason.

Cameras were allowed into the inquiry room for opening and closing speeches, but not during evidence sessions.

Criticism

Lord Cullen said he had feared witnesses might feel under pressure if their evidence was being filmed.

Lord Cullen investigated the Piper Alpha disaster

"If he or she has been subject to some criticism either inside or outside the inquiry it's a very testing experience and one wants to make sure that witnesses give of their best."

Lord Cullen had praise for the way in which the Hutton inquiry used the internet and other technology, with the daily publication of transcripts of evidence.

Of the qualities needed in an inquiry chairman, the judge says the keys are an inquiring and analytical mind with the ability to look beyond the surface for deeper explanations.

It is vital, he said, for all witnesses to be treated fairly and for the inquiry chairman to be able to express their recommendations clearly.

"In any of the inquiries I have been concerned with it's been necessary to work out an approach to the future using the past and the explanation of the past as a starting point."