The Irish Times view on the BBC: a damning review A critical report on the broadcaster’s workings is certain to set the agenda for the upcoming renewal of its charter by a hostile Tory government
about 4 hours ago
An independent inquiry found Martin Bashir faked documents for his 1995 BBC interview with Diana, the Princess of Wales. Photograph: Vickie Flores/ EPA
When Tony Hall conducted an internal BBC review of the 1995 Martin Bashir interview with Diana, Princess of Wales, he concluded the reporter was an “honest and an honourable man”. But the then managing director of news, later director general, could not, as he admitted last Thursday, have been more wrong. A damning report by Lord Dyson, a former member of the supreme court, has found that Bashir lied to obtain the interview and that Hall and the BBC covered up the substantial breach of its ethical standards. The BBC, in the report’s words, “fell short of the high standards of integrity and transparency whi