Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
MPS consider own inquiry into Bashir Diana interview
Probe would run parallel to BBC’S
MPS may launch their own inquiry into Princess Diana’s Panorama interview with Martin Bashir.
Members on the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee have asked to be updated with the progress of a fresh BBC investigation into Bashir’s methods to land his 1995 scoop.
The corporation this week announced Lord Dyson, former head of the Court of Appeal, will head up the new probe, to begin immediately.
He said: “This is an important investigation... I will ensure it is both thorough and fair.”
The Mirror understands committee chairman Julian Knight MP is to contact BBC director general Tim Davie within days, before deciding with committee colleagues on any separate inquiry.
Diana’s brother Charles Spencer last week called a 1996 internal probe into the Panorama programme, which cleared Mr Bashir, a “whitewash”. It was presided over by Lord Hall of Birkenhead, who retired as director-general this year.
Mr Bashir is accused of using bank statements faked by a graphic designer to claim palace courtiers were being paid for information on Diana.
Earl Spencer went public this month with a raft of allegations against the journalist, now the BBC religion editor, claiming he lied to gain his trust and get introduced to his sister.
The BBC says it has a letter written by Diana saying she never saw the bank statements and they did not persuade her to talk.
It also says Mr Bashir cannot b e i nt er v i e wed as h e is recovering from a quadruple bypass and coronavirus.
Witnesses said he looked “fit and well” when spotted at a garage this week.
Mr Bashir and his family left London last Friday after removal men packed up their £2million home in Maida Vale.
I will ensure that the investigation is both thorough and fair LORD DYSON ON BBC PROBE INTO DI’S BASHIR INTERVIEW