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| Ex-MI6 boss denies killing Diana | Ex-MI6 boss denies killing Diana |
| (9 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 rejected 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 'C' quits shadows for inquest Profile: Sir Richard Dearlove | This is such an absurd allegation that it is difficult to deal with Sir Richard Dearlove,Former head of MI6 'C' quits shadows for inquest 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?" |
| One of the purposes of the inquests, perhaps particularly pertinent to this one, is to confirm or allay public suspicion Coroner Lord Justice Scott Baker Evidence relevance defended | One of the purposes of the inquests, perhaps particularly pertinent to this one, is to confirm or allay public suspicion Coroner Lord Justice Scott Baker Evidence relevance defended |
| 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. | He insisted that the service did not seek any such authorisation regarding the princess in 1997. |
| 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. |
| 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, he said. | This would have meant that he would have been aware of any assassination plot, he said. |
| 'Utterly ridiculous' | 'Utterly ridiculous' |
| 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. |
| 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." |
| Mohamed Al Fayed insists that Princess Diana was murdered | Mohamed Al Fayed insists that Princess Diana was murdered |
| 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 dismissed the significance of former MI6 spy Richard Tomlinson's earlier account before the inquest that a colleague drew up plans to kill a top Balkan leader. | He dismissed the significance of former MI6 spy Richard Tomlinson's earlier account before the inquest that a colleague drew up plans to kill a top Balkan leader. |
| The intended target was not Slobodan Milosevic, Sir Richard said. | The intended target was not Slobodan Milosevic, Sir Richard said. |
| "An officer working in one of the sections to do with the Balkans had suggested the possibility of assassinating another political personality who was involved in ethnic cleansing," he acknowledged. | "An officer working in one of the sections to do with the Balkans had suggested the possibility of assassinating another political personality who was involved in ethnic cleansing," he acknowledged. |
| But Sir Richard said this plot was "killed stone dead" after it was committed to paper. The document was shredded and its reference number was removed, he added. | But Sir Richard said this plot was "killed stone dead" after it was committed to paper. The document was shredded and its reference number was removed, he added. |
| The proposal was "out of touch with service practice, service ethos and it was not a proposal to which consideration would be given," Sir Richard said. | The proposal was "out of touch with service practice, service ethos and it was not a proposal to which consideration would be given," Sir Richard said. |
| Allegations from ex-MI5 officer David Shayler that SIS was involved in a plot to kill Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi were simply "not true", he insisted. | Allegations from ex-MI5 officer David Shayler that SIS was involved in a plot to kill Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi were simply "not true", he insisted. |
| The Metropolitan Police had investigated the claim and found it to be "without substance", Sir Richard continued. | The Metropolitan Police had investigated the claim and found it to be "without substance", Sir Richard continued. |
| Under cross-examination by Michael Mansfield QC, acting for Mohammed Al Fayed, Sir Richard denied allegations that: | Under cross-examination by Michael Mansfield QC, acting for Mohammed Al Fayed, Sir Richard denied allegations that: |