Exclusive:
MI6 Secret Intelligence files to be revealed at Princess Diana Inquest
By Gordon Thomas
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
London-- MI6 has been told by government lawyers that it must reveal its top secret files on the death of Diana if the coroner's inquest requests it.
This follows a High Court ruling that a jury of ordinary citizens will return the verdict on the inquest into the death of the princess and her lover, Dodi, the son of Mohammed al-Fayed. He had challenged the decision by coroner Baroness Butler-Schloss to hear the case alone on the grounds it would be "almost impossible" for a jury to decide.
A senior intelligence source has said that the bulky, buff-coloured MI6 files contain "explosive details" about the activities of two MI6 agents in Paris on the night where Diana, 36, and Dodi, 42, died when their car crashed in the Pont de l'Alma.
"The files also contain details of Henri Paul's (their driver) links to French intelligence", said the source. "He met with his French controller hours before the two deaths".
The agents were identified in the High Court judgement, but not named. Both are still serving officers in MI6 and will almost certainly be called by Mohammed's defence team.
Former MI6 officer, Richard Tomlinson, is also ready to give evidence. Tomlinson has already served a year's jail sentence for breaches of the Official Secrets Act and now lives in exile in the south of France. His evidence centres on a document he claims to have seen in an MI6 file.
"It describes in detail how an assassination using a powerful spotlight in a tunnel had been prepared for the murder of Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic. The plan was in the Diana file", insisted Tomlinson. "If I came back to give evidence in Britain, MI6 would have me arrested for what I would say. But I can do it by video link".
The Stevens Report roundly dismissed Tomlinson's claims, but he has insisted: "In my case the Report is a stitch-up".
The High Court decision will mean that MI6 chief, John Scarlett, will be questioned about his role in the death of Diana. At the time he was chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC), which acts as "the invisible footbridge" between the intelligence services and their political masters.
That will raise the question as to whether Tony Blair saw the MI6 files.
Diana's death came at the time Sir Richard Dearlove was head of MI6. He has already been questioned by Lord Stevens for his Report. Dearlove could provide crucial evidence about the role of the two MI6 agents in Paris.
MI5 was under the control of Eliza Manningham-Buller at the time of the crash. An MI5 agent went to the Fulham mortuary after Diana's body returned to England.
An MI6 officer was present at the "partial embalming" of the princess in Paris.
"The files not only contain details about that, but also deal with activities of CIA agents in Paris in the run-up to Diana's death", confirmed the senior intelligence source.
The Stevens Report referred to its failure to obtain details on those activities. Even so, Lord Stevens concluded there is no evidence of a conspiracy to murder the couple.
However, the High Court ruling could now pave the way for a further attempt to persuade America's National Security Agency (NSA) to provide the inquest with the 1,050 surveillance documents on Diana they admit to collecting in the closing days of her life.
"Satellite surveillance began when she was on the al-Fayed yacht, Jonikal, and continued until Diana left the Ritz hotel and was driven to her death", the source said.
NSA has previously insisted the documents cannot be revealed as "national security is involved".
Gordon Thomas 2007
Show Evidence That Diana Was Murdered, Fayed Told
By Robert Verkaik
Both members of the Royal Family were described as "relevant witnesses" in respect to the circumstances that led to the couple's deaths, now being investigated by the retired senior judge, Baroness Butler-Sloss.
Michael Mansfield QC, acting for Mohamed Al Fayed, told Lady Butler-Sloss that Prince Charles had already been interviewed by police but only a summary of that interview had ever been provided to the Harrods owner.
If the police officers had taken full notes then the jury at the full inquest, which begins in May, should be shown them, argued Mr Mansfield.
Prince Philip's evidence would also be of vital importance, he said. "The Duke of Edinburgh was responsible for letters sent to Princess Diana, but he has refused to be interviewed. We would like to know whether we can go beyond that."
Mr Mansfield suggested that Mr Fayed should be told the reasons the Duke had given for his refusal.
Lady Butler-Sloss said that, if evidence were produced of a plot, she would allow the jury to consider Mr Fayed's claims about the Princess's death but she added: "If there is no evidence to support them, I shall not present them to the jury because it would be my duty not to do so."
She said she had not been given "a shred of evidence" about any of the serious allegations Mr Fayed has made about the Princess's death.
But Mr Mansfield told her: "You have it already."
Mr Mansfield made clear that both the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Edinburgh were "witnesses of relevance" Mr Fayed wanted to see give evidence.
When challenged to support any allegations against members of the Royal Family, the barrister said Mr Fayed had co-operated fully with Lord Stevens's investigation and had provided them with the evidence which the former judge had been given.
He told her: "A starting point which will undoubtedly come to light during the inquest is Princess Diana's premonitions or fears." He added: "Mohamed Fayed gave a statement to the police about this and what he had been told by Princess Diana during the summer months, about her concerns, her fears and so on. He has already provided that."
Mr Mansfield added that Mr Fayed was aware that the Princess had confided in her butler, Paul Burrell.
Mr Mansfield said there had been a lot of publicity over a letter Diana wrote to Mr Burrell.
"We say it is extremely important because the original does not appear to have been seen - certainly it has not been seen by us."
The only thing that had been seen was an edited copy that had appeared in the newspapers.
"We would want to see the original of that letter," said Mr Mansfield.
Lady Butler-Sloss said one French doctor, whom she would not identify, had been approached but had indicated he would be prepared to talk to her on the phone - "but not to give evidence". She said: "This is a serious matter, but these are French citizens with their own rights.
"I don't have power to require anyone to attend from France."
She also accepted that members of the paparazzi who were present on the night of the crash "might not be terribly anxious to give evidence".
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