Sir,
Reading the review by Professor Rachel Matthews, where she recalls chairing, on
July 7 2011 a panel on ethics and press standards which included a former director
of the Telegraph Media who had chaired the Press Complaints Commission, I could
only conclude that she was as out of place as a virgin in a knock shop.
Thirty years earlier in May 1981 I vainly requested THE TIMES to correct a lying
front-page report by its Ireland Correspondent Christopher Thomas. In February
1982 the Press Council upheld (after a fashion) my complaint. THE TIMES was the
only British media outlet to publish the Press Council Adjudication. That evening I
turned on the TV to see TIMES EDITOR Harold Evans proclaimed EDITOR OF THE
YEAR, by amongst others, Observer, Editor in Chief, Conor Cruise O’Brien, for
YEAR, by amongst others, Observer, Editor in Chief, Conor Cruise O’Brien, for
years in the 1950s a close fellow-traveller of mine on the Hill of Howth tram.
Within a few months, all on the one morning THE DAILY EXPRESS, its stable-mate
the DAILY STAR, and THE DAILY MAIL repeated Christopher Thomas’s lies verbatim.
A gentleman in Birmingham got in touch with me and the PRESS COUNCIL after a 9 month delay upheld his complaint against the Express, and the Star. I took the DAILY
MAIL to the PRESS COUNCIL, which baulked at the prospect of exposing the lying
MAIL to the PRESS COUNCIL, which baulked at the prospect of exposing the lying
Northern Ireland Secretary, Sir Humphrey Atkins.
The lie was that all the 2,000 plus fatalities from the “Troubles” in the North of Ireland
were inflicted by Republicans and suffered by Protestants.
Shortly thereafter the Press Council was renamed “THE PRESS COMPLAINTS
COMMISSION.” Sir Humphrey Atkins, likewise disappeared,on being given a
COMMISSION.” Sir Humphrey Atkins, likewise disappeared,on being given a
Peerage, and, as BARON COLNBROOK was appointed a Commissioner on
the ne-named body.
The Press Council rules seemed to entitle a customer who bought a paper to
object to being sold rubbish.
Under the Commission rules, customers had no such rights. Essentially Atkins had
lied about the IRA. Never having been a member of that well-meaning (and, in the
long-run, enlightened) body I had no locus-standi. Catch 22, I think it’s called.
Yours faithfully
Donal Kennedy
London
The British administration was bad, but the Dublin hierarchy including Conor Cruise O’Brien were sickening.
I remember Gerry Adams first appearance on the Late Late being ridiculed and insulted by Gay Byrne and a panel of West Brits. They didn’t fool the audience and a 75% support for Gerry from the viewers lifted our hearts.
The piece above is the text of a letter I sent today to the Editor of HISTORY TODAY.
It was prompted by a book review by Professor Rachel Matthews published in
the current (October 2024) issue of that magazine.
I do hope the magazine publishes my letter, which I have copied to various trustworthy
publishers.