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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Ex-MI6 boss denies killing Diana | Ex-MI6 boss denies killing Diana |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| MI6's former chief has denied that the intelligence service murdered Diana, Princess of Wales. | MI6's former chief has denied that the intelligence service murdered Diana, Princess of Wales. |
| At the inquest into her death, Sir Richard Dearlove insisted he had not been aware of MI6 assassinating anyone in his 38-year career there. | At the inquest into her death, Sir Richard Dearlove insisted he had not been aware of MI6 assassinating anyone in his 38-year career there. |
| He denied claims by Harrods boss Mohamed Al Fayed that Diana was killed by MI6 on the orders of Prince Philip. | He denied claims by Harrods boss Mohamed Al Fayed that Diana was killed by MI6 on the orders of Prince Philip. |
| Mr Al Fayed's son Dodi and driver Henri Paul were also killed in a car crash in Paris in August 1997. | Mr Al Fayed's son Dodi and driver Henri Paul were also killed in a car crash in Paris in August 1997. |
| This is such an absurd allegation that it is difficult to deal with Sir Richard Dearlove,Former head of MI6 href="/1/hi/uk/7254914.stm">'C' responds to the claims class="" href="ID=">Profile: Sir Richard Dearlove | |
| Sir Richard told the inquest that this was a "very personal allegation" given his role at the Secret Intelligence Service - otherwise known as MI6 - at the time. | Sir Richard told the inquest that this was a "very personal allegation" given his role at the Secret Intelligence Service - otherwise known as MI6 - at the time. |
| He was MI6's director of operations from 1994 to 1999, and served as head of the agency from 1999 to 2004. | He was MI6's director of operations from 1994 to 1999, and served as head of the agency from 1999 to 2004. |
| He denied that any assassinations took place under his authority. | He denied that any assassinations took place under his authority. |
| 'No authorisation' | 'No authorisation' |
| Ian Burnett QC, for the coroner, asked him: "During the whole of your time in SIS, from 1966 to 2004, were you ever aware of the service assassinating anyone?" | Ian Burnett QC, for the coroner, asked him: "During the whole of your time in SIS, from 1966 to 2004, were you ever aware of the service assassinating anyone?" |
| Sir Richard replied: "No, I was not." | Sir Richard replied: "No, I was not." |
| He added that the service was legally required to seek authorisation from the Foreign Secretary to carry out any operation which involved breaking the law. | He added that the service was legally required to seek authorisation from the Foreign Secretary to carry out any operation which involved breaking the law. |
| He insisted that the service did not seek any such authorisation regarding the princess in 1997, and any such operation would have been "outside the functions of SIS". | He insisted that the service did not seek any such authorisation regarding the princess in 1997, and any such operation would have been "outside the functions of SIS". |
| Mr Burnett read sections of the Intelligence Services Commissioner's report from that year which listed all authorisations given to MI6. None related to Princess Diana. | Mr Burnett read sections of the Intelligence Services Commissioner's report from that year which listed all authorisations given to MI6. None related to Princess Diana. |
| Mr Burnett said: "Are you able to confirm from your own knowledge it follows from what you have said, that no authorisation was sought in respect of any activities concerning Princess Diana?" | Mr Burnett said: "Are you able to confirm from your own knowledge it follows from what you have said, that no authorisation was sought in respect of any activities concerning Princess Diana?" |
| Sir Richard replied: "I can absolutely confirm that." | Sir Richard replied: "I can absolutely confirm that." |
| He said that he sat on the SIS board from 1993, giving him access to sensitive material. | He said that he sat on the SIS board from 1993, giving him access to sensitive material. |
| This would have meant that he would have been aware of any assassination plot. | This would have meant that he would have been aware of any assassination plot. |
| 'Utterly ridiculous' | 'Utterly ridiculous' |
| Sir Richard added: "I think I can say with confidence from when I became a member of the board of SIS, and from the time when I was deputy head of personnel (from 1984 to 1987), I had a very extensive knowledge of the service." | Sir Richard added: "I think I can say with confidence from when I became a member of the board of SIS, and from the time when I was deputy head of personnel (from 1984 to 1987), I had a very extensive knowledge of the service." |
| Asked whether members of the Royal Family had links to MI6, Sir Richard said it was "utterly ridiculous" that Prince Charles and Prince Philip were active members of MI6. | Asked whether members of the Royal Family had links to MI6, Sir Richard said it was "utterly ridiculous" that Prince Charles and Prince Philip were active members of MI6. |
| I had a very extensive knowledge of the service Sir Richard Dearlove,Former head of MI6 | I had a very extensive knowledge of the service Sir Richard Dearlove,Former head of MI6 |
| Mr Burnett said: "It is suggested that Prince Philip and the intelligence agencies really run this country and that we are not a Parliamentary democracy." | Mr Burnett said: "It is suggested that Prince Philip and the intelligence agencies really run this country and that we are not a Parliamentary democracy." |
| Sir Richard replied: "I do not want to be flippant, I'm tempted to say I'm flattered, but this is such an absurd allegation that it is difficult to deal with. | Sir Richard replied: "I do not want to be flippant, I'm tempted to say I'm flattered, but this is such an absurd allegation that it is difficult to deal with. |
| "It's completely off the map. I cannot think of any other way of saying it." | "It's completely off the map. I cannot think of any other way of saying it." |
| He told the hearing he was on holiday in the US when Diana and Dodi were killed. | He told the hearing he was on holiday in the US when Diana and Dodi were killed. |
| He added that it was a "mischievous and fanciful allegation" that MI6 could be responsible for a conspiracy in France involving the police, forensic and emergency services. | He added that it was a "mischievous and fanciful allegation" that MI6 could be responsible for a conspiracy in France involving the police, forensic and emergency services. |