Mohamed Al Fayed was a “monstrous” combination of Jimmy Savile, Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein, his victims’ lawyers say.
Five women alleged they had been raped by Mr Al Fayed, who died last year at the age of 94, with a number of others claiming sexual misconduct.
A press conference which set out the claims made against the late Harrods’ owner heard there was a “systematic failure of corporate responsibility”.
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Barrister Dean Armstrong KC said: “And that systematic failure is on the shoulders of Harrods.”
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
He compared Al Fayed to Savile because the institution “knew about the behaviour” and Epstein due to the “procurement system in place to source the women and girls”.
And he highlighted similarities to Weinstein as it involved someone “at the very top of the organisation abusing his power”.
“We will say plainly, Mohamed Al Fayed was a monster,” Mr Armstrong added.
It comes amid claims the late Queen was warned he was a “dirty old man” and a “salacious attacker of women” before Princess Diana’s death.
(Image: Getty Images)
Scotland Yard’s former head of royalty protection Dai Davies said police were first made aware of such accusations in the 1990s.
He said he told an adviser to Queen Elizabeth II of his concerns about Diana and her sons going on holiday with Al Fayed and his son, Dodi.
This was shortly before Diana’s death in 1997, but Mr Davies says his advice was ignored.
Sir Keir Starmer has come under fire over the failure to prosecute the “monster” while he was chief prosecutor and head of the Crown Prosecution Service in 2009.
The Crown Prosecution Service decided not to charge Al Fayed over claims he sexually assaulted a 15-year-old schoolgirl the previous year.
Prosecutors announced that no charges would be brought because there was “no realistic prospect of conviction”.
The Tories said it was “yet another instance of failure” of the organisation under the PM’s tenure.
If you or somebody you know has been affected by this story, contact Victim Support for free, confidential advice on 08 08 16 89 111 or visit their website.
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