A city’s top judge has led tributes to an agency boss who covered Manchester court cases for nearly half a century.

Mike Slingsby (left) started his journalistic career in 1965 as a 16-year-old with the Stewart and Hartley news agency, covering court cases and sport for the Manchester Evening News, national newspapers and other media.

The 60-year-old later took over the agency and continued working for them throughout his battle with cancer after being diagnosed with the disease in 1999.

He appeared to have beaten cancer at the time of his death last week.

Mike was a well-respected figure in the courtrooms of Manchester and his expert opinion was often sought by judges, particularly in relation to reporting restrictions.

Among the big cases he covered were those relating to the Strangeways Prison riots in 1990.

Andrew Gilbart, the Recorder of Manchester and the city’s top judge, delivered a eulogy at Manchester Crown Court.

He said: “If courts do their job properly, they must be open to scrutiny and unafraid of what happens here being broadcast to the public.

“But too often, what happens here can be distorted in the telling. So the success of the courts in their difficult work depends in part on there being good reporting of what goes on here.

“To be a good reporter takes skill and judgement. Some journalists’ court reports show that they are not at home here.

“One could never say that of Mike. In any case reported by him, one could be sure not just that he got the facts right, but that he got the tone right too.”

Mike’s wife Sue told the Stockport Express: “Mike had all his cancer treatment at Christie Hospital, which helped save his life, and from that time onwards he always was passionate about the first class treatment and care he had received both there and from staff at Stepping Hill Hospital.

“Mike absolutely loved the job and he knew things that nobody else knew.

“He loved his children, Jane and Sean, and his three grandchildren, and his effort was all for us.”

Comments

paul horrocks (29/05/2009 09:03:39)
Mike was an outstanding journalist who won the respect of judges and newspapers throughout his career. His dedication to the craft of court reporting was legendary. Mike’s writing skill , ability to spot stories and his shorthand are an example to all. His family miss him and we miss him at the Manchester Evening News.