The Traveller Movement
Resource for London
356 Holloway Road
London N7 6PA
News story
Press regulator rules on Herefordshire Romany Gypsy woman
press abuse as The Sun apologises
The Sun has apologised to the young Romany Gypsy woman “effectively blamed for
murder” following Traveller Movement complaints to the press regulator over the
reporting of a murder/suicide in Pow Green, Herefordshire.
The Traveller Movement launched the complaints after several newspapers blamed a
tragedy – in which an elderly man killed his wife and then himself - on a legal
planning application by a young Romany Gypsy woman, to site a single mobile home
on the outskirts of the village.
A full account of the reporting in the press can be found here:
http://hackinginquiry.org/comment/they-are-doing-this-to-me-because-of-what-i-amnot-what-i-have-done-arent-they-zoe-lee-20-a-romany-gypsy-cleaner-monstered-bythe-uk-press/
The complaints against the Daily Mail, The Independent, The Sun, The Sun on
Sunday, The Daily Telegraph and the Western Daily Press were lodged through the
Independent Press Organisation (IPSO). Following a resolution process initiated by
IPSO, the complaint was resolved with the national titles and corrections were
published in all, with a further apology published by The Sun.
The Western Daily Press complaint was not resolved and the IPSO Complaints
Committee recently published a decision finding the newspaper in breach of the
accuracy clause 1 of the Editor’s Code of practice.
The full judgement from IPSO can be found here:
http://www.travellermovement.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IndependentPress-Standards-Organisation-Complaints-Committee’s-decision-in-the-case-of-Leev-Western-Daily-Press.pdf
Following a meeting between the Traveller Movement and IPSO Chief Executives
and its Chair, Sir Alan Moses, IPSO has agreed to publish “guidance” to help reduce
the ongoing inaccurate, discriminatory and hateful reporting by certain sections of
the national and local press.
Mike Doherty, Traveller Movement spokesperson, said:
The Traveller Movement, Registered Charity no: 1107113. A limited Company by guarantee, registered in England & Wales No: 4038939
“What happened to the young Romany Gypsy woman was horrific. One moment she
was going about her lawful business, the next she was being monstered by the press
and effectively accused of murder.”
“The judgement from IPSO on the Western Daily Press and the apology from the Sun
are not enough to redress the damage done to this innocent woman’s life.”
“We will continue to fight for a fair and accurate press. The promised guidance from
IPSO is a welcome step forward in this long, long struggle. However, it is not a magic
bullet. The fight continues,” he said.
The Traveller Movement will continue to monitor the press, and work with Gypsies
and Travellers to obtain what justice we can, using the regulatory system, the civil
courts or through other methods as appropriate.
Ends
Notes to Editor
* The Traveller Movement (TM) is a national community development policy and
voice charity who campaign against discrimination, promote inclusion, participation
and community engagement for the Irish Traveller and Gypsy communities in Britain.
TM is proud to work in partnership with the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities
together with service providers and policy makers across the UK to better promote
social inclusion and community cohesion.