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Diana driver 'not a big drinker' Diana driver 'not a big drinker'
(about 3 hours later)
The parents of Princess Diana's driver Henri Paul have told the inquest into her death that they had never seen their son drink to excess.The parents of Princess Diana's driver Henri Paul have told the inquest into her death that they had never seen their son drink to excess.
The princess, Dodi Al Fayed and Mr Paul died in the 1997 Paris crash and tests indicated Mr Paul was three times over the French drink-drive limit.The princess, Dodi Al Fayed and Mr Paul died in the 1997 Paris crash and tests indicated Mr Paul was three times over the French drink-drive limit.
Speaking via video link from Paris, Jean and Giselle Paul said they had never seen their son drunk.Speaking via video link from Paris, Jean and Giselle Paul said they had never seen their son drunk.
They said cash found after his death was given by wealthy clients as tips.They said cash found after his death was given by wealthy clients as tips.
The court heard Mr Paul had lodged 80,000 francs (about £8,000) into bank accounts in each of the three months leading up to his death.
But his parents dismissed suggestions that their son had been in the pay of the security services, as alleged by Dodi's father, Harrods owner Mohamed al Fayed.
We have been looking for the truth for a long time Jean and Giselle Paul Lab results 'cooked'
The couple said they understood their son occasionally received large one-off tips from rich guests at the Ritz Hotel where he worked, including one of 5,000 francs from a Saudi prince for taking his wife and daughter shopping in Paris.
Mrs Paul said: "I have already explained that when he had to do some shopping for the clients of the hotel, he needed to have some cash with him to be able to pay for it."
'Assassination'
The couple also said Lord Stevens, who carried out the Metropolitan Police investigation into the fatal crash, had assured them that their son was not drunk and had been driving more slowly than had been reported.The couple also said Lord Stevens, who carried out the Metropolitan Police investigation into the fatal crash, had assured them that their son was not drunk and had been driving more slowly than had been reported.
Blood tests But his report concluded Mr Paul had a blood alcohol level of 1.74g per litre, the equivalent of twice the British drink-drive limit and three times the French.
Speaking through an interpreter, the couple told Michael Mansfield QC, representing Mohamed al Fayed, that Lord Stevens had said if the crash was an "assassination", the repercussions in England would be "great and incalculable".
They also told the inquest how the French authorities refused their requests for independent tests on their son's blood to prove if he was drunk.They also told the inquest how the French authorities refused their requests for independent tests on their son's blood to prove if he was drunk.
They also dismissed suggestions that their son had been in the pay of the security services, as alleged by Dodi's father, Mohamed al Fayed.
The inquest has heard experts question whether the blood samples tested came from him.The inquest has heard experts question whether the blood samples tested came from him.
'Loyal'
The BBC's Daniela Relph said the couple were "quite frail and hard-of-hearing", and all of the lawyers acknowledged how hard it must be for them to talk about their bereavement.The BBC's Daniela Relph said the couple were "quite frail and hard-of-hearing", and all of the lawyers acknowledged how hard it must be for them to talk about their bereavement.
Henri Paul had been the acting head of security at the Ritz Hotel in Paris when he took the wheel of the Mercedes which crashed in the Alma Tunnel in August 1997.Henri Paul had been the acting head of security at the Ritz Hotel in Paris when he took the wheel of the Mercedes which crashed in the Alma Tunnel in August 1997.
The couple agreed that their son was "very loyal" to Dodi and the Ritz Hotel.
When questioned, they agreed their son may have driven after drinking if Dodi had ordered him to do so.
However, they flatly denied claims, said to have been made during the Lord Stevens meeting in 2006, that Dodi shares some blame for the crash.
"We never said that. We do not know," they said. "We have been looking for the truth for a long time."
The inquest continues.