This Is Gloucestershire : Mother walks out of inquest in frustration

Mother walks out of inquest in frustration

April 25, 2012

THE mother of GCHQ spy Gareth Williams walked out on inquest proceedings yesterday amid family distress at delays in evidence.

Ellen Williams left the courtroom frustrated about legal submissions holding up the hearing into her son's death, her lawyer said.

The walk-out left Mr Williams's sister, Ceri Subbe, to sit in the hearing while the video footage of the death scene was shown.

Mr Williams, who was on secondment at MI6, was found in a padlocked sports holdall in the bath at his London flat on August 23, 2010.

Mrs Williams and husband Ian were on holiday in Toronto, Canada, celebrating her 50th birthday, when they heard about their son's death.

The inquest earlier heard how Mr Williams was unhappy living in London and complained about "friction" at the intelligence agency.

Ms Subbe said he hated the post-work drinking culture and "flash car competitions" at the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS).

He was due to move back to Cheltenham a week after his body was discovered.

The discovery of the spy's body sparked a painstaking investigation, worldwide media frenzy and conspiracy theories.