Two BBC whistleblowers who tried to highlight the deceitful methods employed by Martin Bashir to obtain his explosive interview with Diana, Princess of Wales, have attacked the corporation’s “generic” apology.
Graphic designer Matt Wiessler, who was commissioned by Bashir to create mocked-up documents, has long claimed he was made the scapegoat for the scandal.
The report by Lord Dyson, former master of the rolls and head of civil justice, which was published on Thursday, found Bashir “deceived” Diana into agreeing to the interview.
The journalist commissioned falsified documents purporting to show payments into the bank account of Alan Waller, a former employee of Earl Spencer; Patrick Jephson, Diana’s private secretary; and Richard Aylard, private secretary to the Prince of Wales, the report found.
BBC News
By John Ware
Twenty-five years ago, the BBC s Panorama programme landed a scoop rivals the world over wanted - an interview with Diana, Princess of Wales. Her son and heir to the throne, Prince William, has now launched an unprecedented attack on the corporation over that interview.
The programme, which attracted a UK audience of 23m, was a career-defining moment for reporter Martin Bashir.
But after accusations resurfaced last autumn that Bashir misled the princess to gain her trust, the BBC established an inquiry led by the former Supreme Court judge Lord Dyson. That inquiry has judged Bashir to be unreliable , devious and dishonest.
Two BBC whistleblowers who tried to highlight the deceitful methods employed by Martin Bashir to obtain his explosive interview with Diana, Princess of Wales, have attacked the corporation’s “generic” apology.
Graphic designer Matt Wiessler, who was commissioned by Bashir to create mocked-up documents, has long claimed he was made the scapegoat for the scandal.
The report by Lord Dyson, former master of the rolls and head of civil justice, which was published on Thursday, found Bashir “deceived” Diana into agreeing to the interview.
The journalist commissioned falsified documents purporting to show payments into the bank account of Alan Waller, a former employee of Earl Spencer; Patrick Jephson, Diana’s private secretary; and Richard Aylard, private secretary to the Prince of Wales, the report found.
BBC News
By Joseph Lee
image captionWhistleblower Matt Wiessler revealed faked documents helped to secure a BBC interview with Princess Diana in 1995
The whistleblower who first warned the BBC about the faked documents at the heart of the Princess Diana interview controversy has said he wants an apology from bosses at the time.
Matt Wiessler said a letter sent on Thursday night was too little, too late .
The graphic designer mocked up fake bank statements in 1995 at the request of Panorama interviewer Martin Bashir.
But he did not know what they would be used for until after the broadcast.
Following a highly critical inquiry into how the interview was secured, Mr Wiessler told BBC Radio 4 s Today programme the BBC had only done the absolute minimum to acknowledge how badly he had been treated.
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