Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign

Unit 5, 64 Dame Street, Dublin 2, Ireland ++353 (0)1 677 0253 info@ipsc.ie www.ipsc.ie

Mr. John Horgan Press Ombudsman of Ireland 1, 2 & 3 Westmoreland Street Dublin 2 3rd August 2012 Dear Mr. Horgan, Please find enclosed a formal complaint from the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) against the Irish Times newspaper. The complaint concerns this papers coverage of our campaign during the period from 4th May 2012 to 4th June 2012. In the attached complaint which we formally submitted to the Irish Times Editor Kevin OSullivan on July 17th in both hard copy and via email we trace the trajectory of this coverage, which began with an inaccurate and misleading front page story and continued for a month, with the IPSC only accorded an official right of reply a full 27 days into the debate. As we show in detail, during this period, the Irish Times through reportage and oped/analysis pieces: consistently mischaracterized the IPSCs campaign in support of the Palestinian call for a cultural boycott of Israel, despite being presented with corrective information; allowed defamatory material to be published in its pages; deliberately ignored the Palestinian voices which had called for the boycott and Palestinians living in Ireland who support both the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign and the IPSC; sat on letters correcting the inaccuracies and criticizing the coverage, either not publishing them at all, or publishing them once the criticism had become invalidated by subsequent coverage. By covering the issue in such a manner misreporting and mischaracterising the actions of the IPSC the Irish Times precipitated, abetted and actively participated in a campaign of sustained vilification of the IPSC that was highly damaging to both its good name and that of its members. In particular, the good name and reputation of IPSC member Dr. Raymond Deane was severely damaged by this inaccurate and misleading coverage. The Irish Times therefore acted in clear violation of the Code of Practice laid down by the Press Council of Ireland: namely Principles 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 relating to truth and accuracy and the responsibility to correct errors; Principle 2.2, relating to the reporting of conjecture as though it were fact; Principle 3.1, striving for fairness and accuracy; and Principle 4, respect for the rights and good name of individuals against unfounded accusations. Based on previous cases in which it has been established that the council will vindicate these principles as they relate to organisations as well as individuals, and having received no received satisfaction from the Irish Times (see section below), the IPSC is now taking this complaint to you, the Press Ombudsman. We believe that the errors and inaccuracies of this series of articles should be addressed in their totality rather than on an articlebyarticle basis. While it is not our preference, the IPSC understands the

Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign: Unit 5, 64 Dame Street, Dublin 2, Ireland

Phone: ++353 (0)1 677 0253 Email: info@ipsc.ie Website: www.ipsc.ie

Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign

Unit 5, 64 Dame Street, Dublin 2, Ireland ++353 (0)1 677 0253 info@ipsc.ie www.ipsc.ie

Ombudsman may choose to address the articles individually and so the complaint spells out what we believe to be the code violations contained in each individual piece, as well as the problems with the coverage as a whole. Satisfaction not received In our complaint we asked the Irish Times that, at minimum, a retraction of the initial article and the errors arising from it should appear on the front page of the Irish Times, afforded due prominence equal to that of the original offending article, the wording to be agreed between the Irish Times and the IPSC. Furthermore we asked that, online, the text of the same retraction should be added to all of the articles mentioned in this complaint, at the top of the web page; when appropriate, specific additions to that wording should also appear. On 19th July we received a letter from the Irish Times Editor Kevin OSullivan saying that Our opinion editor Chris Dooley is on holidays until early August and upon his return we will investigate your complaint. I would be grateful if you could bear with us in the meantime. (See copy of the correspondence attached to this letter) Therefore, the Irish Times has indicated that it is unwilling to investigate the complaint until after the deadline for submission to the Press Ombudsman (4th August three months after the original article appeared), or two weeks after the complaint had been submitted to them (deadline 31st July). Thus, we are left with no option but to officially submit the complaint to the Office of the Ombudsman. We have notified the Irish Times that should we receive satisfaction in the meantime, we will duly withdraw our complaint to the Press Ombudsman. Finally, we note that no legal proceedings have been brought against the Irish Times by any individual or organisation attached to this complaint. We look forward to receiving the results of your offices investigation. Sincerely,

Martin OQuigley Chairperson IrelandPalestine Solidarity Campaign

Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign: Unit 5, 64 Dame Street, Dublin 2, Ireland

Phone: ++353 (0)1 677 0253 Email: info@ipsc.ie Website: www.ipsc.ie

Correspondence from the Irish Times Editor Kevin OSullivan. Sent via post on 19th July 2012