Bolton and the Irish Sun

Complaint

Mr Baethean Bolton complained through his solicitors that an article in the Irish Sun on 16 April 2008 contained a reference to the death of his wife some six years previously that was in breach of the following Principles of the Code of Practice: 2 (Distinguishing Fact and Comment), 5 (Privacy) and 9 (Children). He complained that the details cited were untrue, that he ought to have been consulted as next of kin before the publication of any such information, and that the article might cause unjustified distress to his six-year-old daughter, whose mother had died two days after the child’s birth and not, as the paper had stated, in childbirth.

The newspaper offered to publish a clarification. The complainant, through his solicitors, insisted that the newspaper pay his legal fees in addition to the publication of the clarification.

Decision

It is not the function of the Press Ombudsman to consider pecuniary matters in relation to complaints. Complainants can access the services of the Press Ombudsman free of charge, and there is no onus on any complainant to submit a complaint via his or her legal representative.
In the circumstances, the newspaper’s offer to publish a clarification constituted sufficient remedial action on its part to resolve this complaint. No further action is therefore required under the Code of Practice.

17 September 2008

Mr Bolton appealed the decision of the Press Ombudsman to the Press Council of Ireland.