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1533/2023 - Mr Raymond Butler and Independent.ie

By admin
Wednesday, 21st June 2023
Filed under:

Mr Butler appealed the decision to the Press Council of Ireland on the grounds that (1)  the procedures followed in making the decision were not in accordance with the published procedures for submitting and considering complaints and (2) there was an error in the Press Ombudsman’s application of the Principles of the Code of Practice.

COMPLAINT

Mr Butler complained about an article headlined ‘Panic buying of home-heating oil sends prices up sharply and leads to delivery delays’ which he said breached Principle 1 (Truth and Accuracy), Principle 2 (Distinguishing Fact and Comment and Principle 3 (Fair Procedures and Honesty) of the Code of Practice.

 

PRESS OMBUDSMAN’S DECISION

The Press Ombudsman decided not to uphold the complaint.

The Press Council considered the appeal at its meeting on Wednesday, 7 June 2023

APPEAL DECISION

The procedures followed in making the decision were not in accordance with the published procedures for submitting and considering complaints.

The Press Council decided to reject this part of the appeal on the basis that it did not contain sufficient evidence to support the claim made by the appellant that the procedures followed in making the decision were not in accordance with the published procedures for submitting and considering complaints.   

 

It acknowledged that from time to time the Press Ombudsman and the Chair of the Press Council extend deadlines for a short period when a reasonable case has been made for doing so by one side or another.   This does not materially affect the procedures followed.

There was an error in the Press Ombudsman’s application of the Principles of the Code of Practice.

The Press Council found that the Press Ombudsman’s application of the cited Principles of the Code of Practice was cogent and reasonable.  She carefully addressed the assertions made by the appellant about the sourcing of the article and its presentation.  While the Press Ombudsman may in certain cases find it appropriate to seek to establish the veracity of a particular point, she is not required to adjudicate upon broader questions, in this instance, the operation of the Irish energy market.

The Press Council has therefore decided to reject the appeal on this ground also. 

View the Decision of the Press Ombudsman