Banksy art vandalised
“justification” for the story and asked for the name of the boy, as well as a copy of the texts.
Professor Parry said: “It was not written with the extremely high degree of care that this case calls for.”
But Sir John Elvidge, who served as Permanent Secretary from 2003 until 2010, defended his successor Leslie Evans. He said: “I do not see a statement of praise for the work of an independent inquiry as in any way a political statement.”
A spokesperson for the First Minister said the initial response to The Sun was justified, adding: “We asked for the fullest possible details of the allegations that had been relayed to us by telephone in order that appropriate action could be taken. Both the Scottish Government and SNP acted swiftly, decisively and entirely appropriately.”
A piece of street art in Bristol that was last week confirmed as a Banksy has been vandalised.
Obscenities have been scrawled across the artwork, which shows a young girl firing a slingshot.
The elusive artist confirmed he was behind the piece in the early hours of Valentine’s Day and there were worries it could be damaged by Storm Dennis.
One resident who spotted the vandalism said: “It’s a real shame, but it was always going to happen, unfortunately.”