Barrymore faces police probe over inquest perjury claims

POLICE were last night investigating claims that disgraced star Michael Barrymore lied during the inquest on a party guest found dead in his pool.

Coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray has referred the perjury allegations to Essex police following the open verdict at the inquest of Stuart Lubbock on Friday.

The decision came on the same day the BBC “postponed indefinitely” its controversial plans to publish Barrymore’s autobiography after growing criticism.

The investigation into the allegations was launched after the TV presenter’s estranged wife Cheryl Barrymore claimed he could swim despite him telling the inquest he could not.

She also alleges the entertainer had rubbed cocaine on the gums of other people as well as himself.

Barrymore’s solicitor David Corker last night said the coroner’s decision was “proper” and said his client had no concerns about it.

He added: “Any allegation of perjury is obviously very serious and I would expect the coroner to take such allegations seriously. If the police wish to speak to Mr Barrymore in order for him to refute the allegations made by Mrs Barrymore he will be pleased to do so.”

Mr Lubbock, of Harlow, Essex, died after going to a party at the house of the 50-year-old entertainer questions about drug taking allegations.

At the conclusion of the week-long hearing, the coroner said what happened to Mr Lubbock before he was found in the star’s swimming pool remained a mystery.

Mr Lubbock’s father, Terry, said he did not think he would ever know what happened to his son but added: “In some way we do feel that we will get justice in one shape or form.”

BBC Worldwide came under fire for plans to publish Barrymore’s memoirs, called Running Away from Myself, which it had commissioned in September 2000 in a rumoured stg£500,000 deal. The book was going to contain details of the Lubbock case and plans for it came under fierce criticism.

Stuart Lubbock’s mother called for the disgraced star to never work in TV again. Dorothy Hand, speaking in her first television interview, called on the public to help make sure the presenter is left out of work.

She said: “I would never want him (Barrymore) to work again. I used to watch all his programmes.” She also asked the viewing public not to watch Barrymore on television.

Ms Hand is now on anti-depressants following the trauma of her son’s death and last week’s inquest, a spokesman for the programme said.

She divorced Stuart’s father, Terry, 18 years ago but the pair have grown closer following the tragedy.

The couple are also considering suing Barrymore for compensation for Mr Lubbock’s two daughters, aged three and five, because their father died on his property.