Further written evidence from Terence Ewing (PS 166)

 

I am writing again to the Committee to draw its attention to the case of Mr. Barry George as reported in the media today.

 

This would again appear to be a case of reporters from News International on the Sun and News of the World reporters again making up a fictitious story in order to attempt to blacken the character of Mr. George, notwithstanding some of his previous convictions.

 

I understand that the Committee had the editor of the News of the World, Mr. Colin Myler before it in order to ask him questions most recently relating to the Guardian newspaper reports surrounding the hacking scandal.

 

It would appear yet again that the responsibility for the publication of these malicious and unfounded and concocted articles must rest on his shoulders, showing that he is completely unfit for purpose.

 

The question that arises is what was his role and responsibility in connection with the Barry George articles, and did he make proper checks with the journalists who wrote the stories, in order to very their accuracy.

 

It is noted that News International have conceded that the alleged quotes attributed to Mr. George weren't true or accurate. The same would also apply to the former editor of the Sun newspaper Ms Rebekah Brooks.

 

I should be also noted that she is also a former editor of the News of the World, and has since been appointed as Chief Executive of News International.

 

The question therefore arises that if a seriously defamatory article such as the Barry George article was published whilst Ms Brooks was editor of the Sun, whether this establishes a pattern by News International newspapers of deliberately and maliciously publishing stories that at the time are known not to be true.

 

This clearly raises important issues concerning press freedom and the power to abuse those freedoms by News International, thereby bringing the journalistic profession into serious disrepute.

 

She was also arrested in November 2005 over an alleged assault on her husband Eastenders star Ross Kemp, copy enclosed.

 

It would seem that the Guardian were quite right to seek to draw attention the complete lack of professionalism in relation to the journalism of News International journalists, as this recent case clearly shows.

 

The Committee may therefore like to take this recent case into account when considering its recommendations in its final report on Press Standards Privacy and Libel.

 

December 2009