BRITISH police yesterday insisted that an Irishman who tapped on the windows of Kensington Palace in the middle of the night, demanding to see the Princess of Wales, had not breached palace security.
A burly Irishman, Liam Whitney (36), climbed fences to get into the Orangery gardens alongside the princess's London home and within 80 yards of her bedroom.
A spokeswoman said that Princess Diana was in residence at Kensington Palace at the time of the incident, but was not disturbed in any way.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said. "There was no breach of the Palace secure area. The Orangery is open to the public during the day but not at night. There is nothing to suggest that he has done this before."
Whitney, a clerical officer from Tullamore, Co Offaly, gave no explanation for his actions when he appeared at Horseferry Road Magistrates' Court on Monday.
Ms Vivien Walters, prosecuting, said that Whitney climbed into the park over a fence by the Victoria memorial, then jumped over another fence at the Orangery.
He started knocking on a door to the State Apartments, which are open to the public during the day, but were locked at that time. Dressed casually, Whitney pleaded guilty to breaching The Royal and Other Parks and Gardens Regulations 1977. He was bound over in the sum of £100 to be of good behaviour and keep the peace for a year.
Ms Elizabeth Houghton, who represented Whitney, told the court that he had come from Ireland about a fortnight ago and intended to return in about a week's time.