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Visiter apologises to major's widow

Below are summaries of the latest complaints involving the regional press which have been resolved between the parties involved, with help from the Press Complaints Commission.

Southport Visiter
Raqual Harper-Titchener, widow of Major Matthew Titchener who was killed in Iraq in 2003, complained that an article was inaccurate when it stated that she had remarried. (Clause 1).
Resolution
The complaint was resolved when the newspaper published the following apology to the complainant:
“In a report in The Southport Visiter of October 5, headlined ‘Honour for Serviceman’, the Southport Visiter incorrectly stated that Mrs Raqual Harper-Titchener had remarried. We apologise unreservedly to Mrs Harper-Titchener, her family and any members of her late husband’s family for any distress caused by this error.”

Western Daily Press
Rory Hegarty, deputy director of communications for West London Mental Health NHS Trust, complained that the newspaper had inaccurately referred to Broadmoor as a “prison” and a “jail”. (Clause 1).
Resolution
The complaint was resolved when the newspaper reminded its staff of the PCC guidance in this area and published the following apology:
“Further to an article carried in the Western Daily Press on Saturday August 11, we have been asked to make clear that Broadmoor is a high-security hospital, not a prison. People who are detained in these hospitals under the 1983 Mental Health Act are patients, not prisoners. We regret these inaccuracies and are happy to set the record straight.”

The Citizen
Edward Ede, of Gloucester, complained that an article had inaccurately claimed that he had been accused of fraud and perverting the course of justice. He explained that he had never been accused of fraud. Moreover, the charge of perverting the course of justice had been dropped and the complainant had instead faced a charge of evading a liability by deception. (Clause 1).
Resolution
The complaint was resolved when the newspaper published the following clarification:
“Edward Ede
We incorrectly said Edward Ede, 62, was charged with fraud and perverting the course of justice (‘Pensioner accused of £1,000 bank fraud’, published on November 8). In fact, he initially only faced the latter charge, which was dropped, and he subsequently admitted a charge of evading a liability by deception.”

Yorkshire Evening Post
George Wilkinson, of East Grimsted, complained that an individual’s claim that it would be fairly easy to convert Airsoft Guns to live ammunition was inaccurate. (Clause 1).
Resolution
The complaint was resolved when the newspaper published the complainant’s letter making clear that the guns in question could not be converted to fire live ammunition and emphasising that ‘tricking out’ a gun was not the same as converting it. The letter also set out the complainant’s views on the Gun Control Network which he considered to use exaggeration.

Banbridge Chronicle
Homecare (NI) Ltd complained through Tiernans Solicitors that an article about service it had provided to a Banbridge pensioner gave the misleading impression that its service – both in this case and more generally – was unreliable and not to a high standard. (Clause 1).
Resolution
Although the newspaper stood by its article, the complaint was resolved when it undertook to publish a further article outlining a client’s positive experience of the service provided by Homecare (NI) Ltd.

Evening Standard
Dan Zerdin, of London, complained that the newspaper had added a sentence to a letter he had submitted so that, when it was published, it made reference to an issue he had not actually raised in his correspondence. (Clause 1).
Resolution
The newspaper admitted that the complainant’s letter had been misinterpreted and, therefore, had been incorrectly précised prior to publication. It apologised for the misunderstanding. The letters’ editor was made aware of the need to be even more careful to avoid such misunderstandings in the future.

The Argus
Celia Luker complained that a photograph of her with her children – which was used to illustrate an article about an internet book on overheard conversations – appeared to attribute to her a phrase which she had not said. The complainant was also concerned that the use of the photograph intruded into her privacy. (Clause 1, 3).
Resolution
The complaint was resolved when the newspaper wrote a private letter of apology to the complainant in addition to destroying the photograph in question.

Newport Advertiser
Tim Roberts, of Telford, complained that the newspaper had included his full address in his letter for publication despite a request for anonymity. (Clause 3).
Resolution
The complaint was resolved when the newspaper sent a private letter of apology to the complainant for the error.