London, United Kingdom:
The BBC on Thursday made a “full and unconditional apology” following an independent report discovered that journalist Martin Bashir utilised “deception” to safe an explosive 1995 interview with princess Diana.
“The indirect and real target of Mr Bashir’s deceptions was Princess Diana,” wrote retired senior judge John Dyson following a six-month investigation.
Dyson stated he was “satisfied” that Bashir showed fake bank statements to Diana’s brother Earl Spencer “so as to deceive Earl Spencer and induce him to arrange the meeting with Princess Diana.”
“Mr Bashir acted inappropriately and in serious breach” of the BBC recommendations, Dyson added.
BBC Director-General Tim Davie accepted that “the process for securing the interview fell far short of what audiences have a right to expect.
“The BBC must have made higher work to get to the bottom of what occurred at the time and been more transparent about what it knew,” he said.
“While the BBC can’t turn back the clock following a quarter of a century, we can make a complete and unconditional apology. The BBC gives that today.”
Dyson also took aim at a 1996 BBC investigation into the claims by future BBC chief Tony Hall and another senior BBC figure, Anne Sloman, that cleared Bashir of wrong-doing.
“The investigation performed by Lord Hall and Mrs Sloman was flawed and woefully ineffective,” said Dyson.
Hall admitted that the probe “fell effectively quick of what was essential” and that he was “incorrect to give Martin Bashir the advantage of the doubt”.
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