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.

Gloucestershire Echo
Ros Honeywill complained with the signed authority of Darren Caudle Wood that an article reporting the outcome of the latter’s court case had named Mr Caudle Wood’s two year old daughter, in addition to publishing details of her address. The complainant was also concerned that the coverage had been biased against Mr Caudle Wood. (Clauses 3, 6, 7, 9)
Resolution: While the newspaper did not accept that the Code had been breached, the complaint was resolved when the editor wrote a private letter to the complainant, apologising for the inclusion of Mr Caudle Wood’s daughter’s name and the distress caused as a result.

Barnsley Chronicle
Mike Robinson, practice manager of Rotherham Road Medical Centre, complained that members of his staff had been harassed by reporters from the newspaper – on the telephone and at the surgery – in an attempt to obtain information following a letter it had received from the relative of a patient. The letter alleged that the patient had spent the last few months of her life in unnecessary agony owing to the negligence of health and social services. (Clause 4)
Resolution: The complaint was resolved when the newspaper – which explained the circumstances behind its attempts to contact the Medical Centre on, it believed, a matter of public interest – gave an assurance that any further enquiries in relation to the practice would be directed to the complainant in the first instance.

The Herald
Hugh Humphries, Secretary of the Scottish Friends of Palestine, complained that an article was inaccurate when it stated that Rangers Supporters of Palestine was an offshoot of the organisation. (Clause 1)
Resolution: The complaint was resolved when the newspaper published the following clarification and apology: The Herald stated in an article published on November 3, 2006, that Rangers Supporters of Palestine was an offshoot of Scottish Friends of Palestine. We have been asked by the Scottish Friends of Palestine to point out that the groups are not linked in any way and we apologise for this error.

Belfast Telegraph
Patrick Ritchie and Roisin Ritchie of County Armagh complained that the report of an inquest into the tragic death of their son, Shea, was inaccurate – particularly in relation to the headline – and that the coverage had been handled insensitively. (Clauses 1, 5)
Resolution: The complaint was resolved when the newspaper – which believed that its report accurately reflected the proceedings – wrote a private letter to the complainants expressing regret that its article had caused them distress.

Irish News
Patrick Ritchie and Roisin Ritchie of County Armagh complained that the report of an inquest into the tragic death of their son, Shea, was inaccurate – particularly in relation to the headline – and that the coverage had been handled insensitively. (Clauses 1, 5)
Resolution: The complaint was resolved when the newspaper – which considered that its report accurately reflected the proceedings – wrote a private letter to the complainants apologising if its article had caused them distress at a difficult time.

Belfast Newsletter
Patrick Ritchie and Mrs Roisin Ritchie of County Armagh complained that the report of an inquest into the tragic death of their son, Shea, contained inaccuracies and that the coverage had been handled insensitively. (Clauses 1, 5)
Resolution: The complaint was resolved when the newspaper published the following correction and apology: Our report on 29 September last of the Coroner’s Court inquest into the death of infant Shea Ritchie who died as a result of postural asphyxia wrongly stated that he was found “upside down”. We have now established that no evidence was given to that effect. We apologise to the Ritchie family for the error in our report.

The Citizen
David Baldwin of Gloucester complained that the newspaper had published a photograph of his son, who had recently died, after a journalist had been told that the family did not want a photograph to be published. (Clauses 3, 5)
Resolution: The complaint was resolved when the newspaper - which, following this complaint, instituted a system to check the origin of all photographs supplied by agencies to prevent the problem recurring - sent a letter of apology to the complainant. The newspaper also made a donation to MIND on the family’s behalf, at the request of the complainant.

Inverness Courier
Frances Hunter of Inverness complained that the headline to an article had inaccurately claimed that she had been demoted from her position as assistant principal at Inverness College, when in fact her former position no longer existed. (Clause 1)
Resolution: The complaint was resolved when the Editor agreed to meet the complainant and published the following clarification: In the Inverness Courier of 23rd February, a headline stated that Frances Hunter had been demoted from her position as assistant principal at Inverness College. In fact Mrs Hunter's post was abolished in a management restructure. She continues to provide on-site assessment services to the college on a part-time, casual basis. We apologise for any confusion.