Northern Ireland: Alternative Ulster

Following an article published in Sunday Life on 3 February 2015, headlined “Tyrone cleric baffled by false gay rumours”, Rev Peter Thompson complained to the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) that Sunday Life had intruded into his private life in breach of Clause 3 (Privacy) of the Editors’ Code of Practice. IPSO upheld the complaint and established a breach of the Editors’ Code. IPSO required the Sunday Life to publish this decision by its Complaints Committee as a remedy to the breach.

The article reported that the complainant was “baffled” by “false rumours” that he had been cautioned by police, and also that he was homosexual.

The complainant said that the publication of these rumours, which were personal in nature, was a breach of his privacy. He said that he had confirmed to the newspaper prior to publication that the claims were untrue and unsubstantiated.

The complainant had been contacted for his comment prior to publication, and had contacted the Church of Ireland Press Office to confirm the identity of the journalist before returning her call. The complainant was concerned that the newspaper had sought to use his categorical denial of the allegations in that conversation as justification for circulating them further...

Belfast Telegraph.

The Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso) has upheld a complaint against the Belfast-based Sunday Life and ordered the newspaper to carry its adjudication.

Ipso’s complaints committee ruled that the paper had intruded into the privacy of a Church of Ireland rector by publishing rumours about him.

Reverend Peter Thompson complained to the regulator after the Life published an article in February 2015 headlined “Tyrone cleric baffled by false gay rumours”. The article also referred to another rumour that he had been cautioned by police.

Thompson, who told the paper’s reporter that the claims were untrue and unsubstantiated, argued that the paper had sought to use his categorical denial as justification for circulating them further.

The newspaper explained that it was made aware of the rumours after being contacted by an unknown source. It contended that the article was in the public interest because Thompson was a prominent local figure, and the allegation that he had had a police caution was of a very serious nature. 

Media Guardian.

Chris Smith: Flood Damage

Following the floods fiasco in Somerset, Daily Mail attack-dog Andrew Pierce was unleashed from his kennel to do a hatchet job on hapless Environment Agency Chris Smith. He had no shortage of material, Lord Smith of Finsbury being gay, socialist, green, an ex-Islington councillor and a luvvie cum laude with a PhD in poetry.

Pierce swiftly bashed out the required 900 words - only for an urgent command to arrive from the 'Eagle's Nest', aka editor Paul Dacre's office on the third floor, instructing newsdesk lackeys to spike the piece. Other Mail columnists were also ordered to steer clear of Smith in their own pieces.

What conceivable reason might Dacre have wanting to keep on the right side of the former culture secretary? The possibility that Lord Smith must be kept sweet at all costs as he's lined up to be appointed chair of IPSO, the new Independent Press Standards Organisation, is of course too silly to contemplate!

Private Eye.

Update: Or does Lord Smith have plans to be the next BBC Chairman?