CANADA
The Globe and Mail
SUNNY DHILLON
VANCOUVER — The Globe and Mail
Published Friday, Jun. 19, 2015
The editor of a weekly newspaper that published a controversial article about former Vancouver Olympics CEO John Furlong says the people who allege Mr. Furlong was physically abusive when he was a gym teacher had a right to be heard.
The Georgia Straight published a lengthy article about Mr. Furlong, authored by freelance journalist Laura Robinson, in September, 2012. Eight people swore affidavits that alleged Mr. Furlong abused his students when he was a physical-education instructor at Immaculata Roman Catholic Elementary School in Burns Lake, B.C., from 1969-70.
Ms. Robinson is suing Mr. Furlong over comments he made at a news conference the day the story was published. Mr. Furlong vehemently denied any wrongdoing and criticized Ms. Robinson’s reporting, saying she had a vendetta against him.
Mr. Furlong filed lawsuits against Ms. Robinson and the Georgia Straight, but ultimately abandoned both.
On Friday, Georgia Straight editor Charlie Smith testified about the paper’s decision to run the story.
“Do people have the right to be heard who swear affidavits about what happened? That’s what it was all about,” said Mr. Smith.
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