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Diana inquiries costs reach £7m Diana inquiries' cost nears £7m
(about 4 hours later)
Investigations and hearings into the death of Princess Diana have cost more than £7m, latest figures show. Investigations and hearings into the death of Princess Diana have cost nearly £7m, latest figures show.
The figures for the period up to the end of February show the costs of the five-month coroner's inquest alone have reached just over £3m. The figures for the period up to the end of February showed the costs of the five-month coroner's inquest have reached nearly £3m.
These costs could rise as the bill for lawyers representing the police and MI6 have not yet been made public. Additionally, the Metropolitan Police investigation into the car crash that killed the princess cost almost £4m.
Additionally, the Metropolitan Police investigation into the August 1997 Paris crash cost about £4m. Diana, her companion Dodi Al Fayed and driver Henri Paul, died in the crash in Paris on 31 August 1997.
Diana, her companion Dodi Al Fayed and driver Henri Paul died after a car crash in a Paris tunnel on August 31, 1997. Coroner Lord Justice Scott Baker sent the jury away earlier this week until 31 March, when they will return to hear his summary of evidence.
Coroner Lord Justice Scott Baker sent the jury away earlier this week until March 31, when they will return to hear his summary of evidence. DIANA AND DODI INQUEST Total cost to date: £2,885,618. Includes:Staffing: £207,697External legal services: £1,328,195IT services: £465,590Video conferencing and special visits: £478,844Consultancy fees: £96,562Running costs: £308,728
Inquest officials said the figures - published on the coroner's website - were being released in "the interests of openness".
The inquest in the deaths of the princess and Mr Fayed has so far cost £2,885,618.66.
This is being paid for by the Ministry of Justice.
The bulk of the costs have gone on external legal services, IT, video conferencing and site visits.
The figures do not include £187,464 of costs incurred by the Coroner Lord Justice Scott Baker and the previous Coroner, Lady Butler-Sloss, up to 30 June 2007.
This would have included lawyers' legal fees for setting up the inquest, plus payments for Lady Butler-Sloss's services.
The separate bill for lawyers representing the police, MI6 and the Al Fayeds have not yet been made public.
In December 2006, the official police inquiry into the crash - led by former Met Commissioner Lord Stevens - found no evidence that the couple were murdered.
The three-year inquiry was launched at the request of Michael Burgess, the Royal Coroner, who was then overseeing the expected Diana inquest.
Lord Stevens investigated allegations that Diana and Dodi were murdered, a theory endorsed by Dodi's father Mohamed al Fayed.
That inquiry, codenamed Operation Paget, cost just under £3.7m.