A regional daily has made a donation to charity after being accused of a privacy breach in an inquest report about a teenager who accidentally hanged himself.

The Nottingham Post carried a story in March last year headlined “Teenager accidentally hanged himself by hoodie on gate latch, inquest hears.”

Patricia Cadman complained to the Independent Press Standards Organisation that the story breached Clause 1 (Accuracy), Clause 3 (Privacy) and Clause 5 (Intrusion into grief or shock) of the Editors’ Code of Practice.

The press watchdog ultimately made no ruling on the case after the complaint was successfully mediated.

Ms Cadman said the article contained inaccuracies and intruded into her family’s privacy. She also expressed concern that the journalist who wrote the story had not handled approaches sensitively.

The Post said that it was very sorry for any upset caused by the article, but did not believe that it had breached the Code.

IPSO said it had begun an investigation into the matter after direct correspondence between the parties had failed to resolve the complaint.

However the newspaper then offered to publish an article about a charity the complainant had founded, and to arrange some raffle prizes for a related fundraising event.

Said IPSO:  “The complainant said that these proposals would resolve the matter to her satisfaction.

“As the complaint was successfully mediated, the Complaints Committee did not make a determination as to whether there had been any breach of the Code.”