My understanding is: Blackburn was sacked today because was being unco-operative toward the enquirer, he failed to tow the party (BBC) line.
Smith said there was contemporaneous evidence in place that supported the BBCs view that they properly investigated the allegations and Blackburn was inteviewd by Cotton and a QC. Blackburn said he did speak to them around that time but not in this context! In light of the contemporaneous evidence Smith decided to favour the BBC version of events.
In light of what he said the BBC deemed his behaviour to be uncooperative and u professional and dismissed him.
I ask myself the following question. Why would Blackburn lie about something like this, if he had supported the BBC's view he would have been cleared. Nothing was found at the time (if the chats happened), so surely it was to his benefit to agree.
That said, I think Blacknburn is trying to expose the BBC by suggesting that their version of events was given to portray them as being clean, above board and beyond question and that and that they dealt with the allegations fully and promptly, after all a DG and QC don't deal with everyday mundane matters and complaints do they? The question is did they deal with this or is this just what they want us to believe?
Do you believe Blackburn of the BBC?
Who had the most to gain out of fabricating the truth?
Why would Blackburn lie? Had he supported the BBC he would have been home and dry
In this specific case it was reasonably certain he hadn't committed any offence as the girls mother confirmed her daughter and said before she took her own life that it had never happened - maybe she was a fantasist who was plagued with guilt.... we'll never know.
I personally think the BBC has yet again behaved wholly inappropriately, displaying the bullying and whitewash type cultures that they were being investigated for in the first place.