The BBC apologized after completing an investigation into the fraudulent methods used to obtain an exclusive interview with the late Lady Diana.
The 1995 interview on the BBC's Panorama program was conducted by former BBC journalist Martin Bashir, who used false bank statements to secure an interview with the princess, according to a report by Lord Dyson, a former judge old.
According to the report, Bashir provided a false bank statement showing payments from a consulting firm and News International to the bank account of Alan Waller, a former employee of Diana's brother Charles Spencer.
He showed her these statements in September 1995 and then a few days later showed him more bank statements showing payments in the accounts of Diana and Prince Charles's private secretaries. Dyson writes in the report "it is likely that these statements were made by Bashir and contain information that he fabricated".
Using these bank statements, Bashir was able to persuade Spencer to arrange a meeting with Lady Diana and after that, persuaded him to give the famous interview.
Bashir then lied to BBC executives about the situation. The report also criticizes the BBC's subsequent investigation into the matter, calling it "flawed and sadly ineffective".
BBC Director-General Tim Davie said: “I would like to thank Lord Dyson. His report on the circumstances surrounding the 1995 interview is complete and comprehensive. The BBC fully acknowledges Lord Dyson's findings. "
"Although the report says that Diana, Princess of Wales, agreed with the idea of ??an interview with the BBC, it is clear that the process of securing the interview was far from what viewers have a right to expect. We are very sorry about that. "Lord Dyson has identified clear failures." He added.
Following the statement, the Director General said that today "the BBC has better procedures".
"While the BBC cannot turn back time after a quarter of a century, we can apologize, in full and unconditionally."
Martin Bashir resigned from his role as religion editor earlier this month due to health issues, at least so it was said.
Burimi: BBC, Euronews, HuffPost
