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| Ex-MI6 boss denies killing Diana | Ex-MI6 boss denies killing Diana |
| (31 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 during his 38-year career there. | At the inquest into her death, Sir Richard Dearlove insisted he had not been aware of MI6 assassinating anyone during his 38-year career there. |
| Jurors have heard Harrods boss Mohamed Al Fayed claim that Diana was killed by MI6 on the orders of Prince Philip. | |
| Mr Al Fayed's son Dodi and driver Henri Paul also were killed in a car crash in Paris in August 1997. | Mr Al Fayed's son Dodi and driver Henri Paul also were killed in a car crash in Paris in August 1997. |
| 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 denied that any assassinations took place under his authority. | |
| '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?" | |
| Sir Richard replied: "No, I was not." | |
| I had a very extensive knowledge of the service Sir Richard DearloveEx-head, MI6 Profile: Sir Richard Dearlove | |
| Sir Richard 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". | |
| 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?" | |
| 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. | |
| This would have meant that he would have been aware of any assassination plot. | |
| 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." |