Fergie calls in lawyers to halt child abuse row
Fergie calls in lawyers to halt child abuse row
Michael Gillard
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The Queen’s lawyers have intervened to block the publication of a book about the Duchess of York’s exposé of child mistreatment in Turkey’s state-run orphanages.
The move could help to defuse an escalating diplomatic row with Ankara that began when Sarah Ferguson and her younger daughter, Princess Eugenie, went undercover for an ITV documentary 10 months ago. Ferguson had intended the programme as a piece of humanitarian campaigning.
The film, made with an ITN journalist, showed shocking images of distressed children tethered to cots and benches or left in soiled rags.
Ankara’s response was to initiate an investigation against Ferguson for breach of privacy laws, a first move towards the almost unprecedented step of an extradition attempt against a relation of the royal family.
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Turkey 'seeks Duchess of York for questioning over TV documentary'
Ferguson has now withdrawn her co-operation from Chris Rogers, the ITN journalist who has written a book about their Turkish investigation.
A source said: “There was a huge amount of pressure on her not to be part of the book but she had come to this decision herself. [She was] strongly advised by senior people in the palace that she shouldn’t be doing anything to antagonise an already difficult situation.” The palace insisted it had exerted no pressure on Ferguson.
Farrer & Co wrote to Rogers on behalf of the duchess last month, asserting her copyright over much of the book’s source material including his notes.
The firm, solicitors to the Queen, also asked for details of his publisher, Authentic Media, and a list of anyone who has seen the manuscript.
The project originally went ahead with the blessing of the palace and Prince Andrew, Ferguson’s ex-husband, who agreed that Eugenie — sixth in line to the throne — could accompany her on the undercover mission.
There was always the potential for political fallout. If Turkey is admitted to the European Union, this would be conditional on an improvement in its human rights record. The British government supports Turkey’s candidacy.
ITV wanted to examine the conditions at state-run orphanages. The crew turned to subterfuge after they were refused access to the Saray rehabilitation centre, 20 miles from Ankara.
Rogers posed as an aid worker and Ferguson donned a black wig and green headscarf to film secretly inside. The journalist later said: “Toddlers and teenagers alike were confined, many tied by hands or ankles to metal bars.”
In another orphanage, Eugenie, 19, was filmed crying over children craving attention.
After the documentary, Duchess and Daughters: Their Secret Mission, was broadcast last November, Turkey accused Ferguson of being “ill-intentioned” and trying to scupper its entry into the EU, which her spokeswoman denied. She said the duchess was “apolitical” and motivated by child welfare.
Despite Turkey’s displeasure, the palace did not intervene when Ferguson started co-operating with Rogers on a book provisionally entitled Undercover. She also agreed to put her name to a foreword.
In Ankara, an investigation has begun into Ferguson and the ITV crew for “illegally filming” and “violations of privacy”. Turkey said it wanted statements from the duchess, Rogers and another journalist.
According to a source close to the discussions, Ferguson consulted the palace and withdrew her co-operation.
When Ferguson was asked for comment last week, Farrers threatened to apply for an injunction for breach of confidence. The threat was later withdrawn.
Sarah’s scrapes
Sarah Ferguson’s previous scrapes include:
The Duchess in Hull, an ITV programme last year in which she tried to teach a family of six to live on £80 a week, which was damned as a patronising stunt
In 1995, she lost diamonds worth about £250,000 at JFK airport in New York.
In 1992, she was photographed topless having her toes sucked by her financial adviser