Bashir inquiry ‘should look at murder case’

THE judge-led inquiry into Martin Bashir ’s conduct should be widened to exami ne other allegations of wrongdoing, a former colleague said last night, after it emerged that he is accused of almost derailing a child murder case by losing key evidence while working for the BBC.

The f ormer Panorama journalist is to be investigated by Lord Dyson following allegations that he used fake bank statements to help secure the 1995 world exclusive interview with Diana, Princess of Wales.

But a j ournalist who worked alongside Mr Bashir on a 1991 BBC documentary on the infamous Babes in the Wood murders has said there are serious questions over his conduct while employed by the BBC then.

Eileen Fairweather has described how they had been working together on the BBC’S Public Eye documentary investigating the murders of Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway in 1986 and the acquittal of prime suspect Russell Bishop.

After approaching the Hadaway family, she alleged that Bashir offered to arrange for DNA tests to be carried out on items of her clothing.

But the tests never took place, and when the documentary was dropped, Mr Bashir allegedly failed to return the clothing to the family.

I n 2004 when Sussex Police launched a cold case review and requested the return of the potentially crucial evidence, Mr Bashir, who was working in the United States at the time, claimed he had no recollection of ever meeting the family.

Bishop was eventually convicted of the girls’ murders in 2018.

Ms Fairweather said: “The inquiry into the Diana incident really ought to be expanded to look at other incidents because if there is a pattern of behaviour here, then there are serious questions around why the BBC saw fit to re-employ Martin Bashir in 2016.

“When we met with the Hadaway family they were absolutely desperate for any ray of hope …

“His response when asked about the clothing some years later was appalling … Who knows whether Bishop might have been brought to justice quicker if the clothing had been found.

“But also, questioning whether the meeting ever took place added immeasurably to the pain of the Hadaway family.”