IRELAND
The Irish Times
PATSY McGARRY and CARL O’BRIEN
A report commissioned by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland into the Prime Time Investigates programme that libelled Fr Kevin Reynolds has heavily criticised the standards of journalism involved in the broadcast.
Former BBC Northern Ireland controller Anna Carragher – who was commissioned by the authority to investigate breaches of broadcasting law – has concluded that the programme was unfair and a breach of Fr Reynold’s privacy.
The report’s findings are also heavily critical of the production team behind the programme.
Among its findings are that:
* Interviews with significant sources were not documented and there was an almost complete absence of documentary evidence.
* At all stages of the production of the programme, note taking was either nonexistent or grossly inadequate.
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