BBC admits Heysel and Hillsborough ‘inaccuracies’

[dorgie]

From today's Post

 

http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverp...64375-20401624/

 

BBC admits Heysel and Hillsborough ‘inaccuracies’

Jan 28 2008

 

THE BBC last night admitted one of its flagship politics shows breached editorial guidelines by making inaccurate claims about the Heysel and Hillsborough disasters.

 

The corporation’s editorial standards unit has upheld complaints made by angry Liverpool FC fans in the wake of an edition of the Politics Show, broadcast late last year.

 

Reporter Patrick Burns first said the Heysel disaster led to the segregation of football fans at English football matches; the practice was already commmonplace. The BBC upheld that complaint on the grounds that it had not met standards of accuracy.

 

Mr Burns then went on to say that the deaths of 96 Liverpools fans in the Hillsborough disaster was caused by “a late influx of ticketless” fans, in contradiction of the findings of the inquiry led by Lord Taylor.

 

The BBC’s investigation concluded that the Hillsborough claim was not correct, and upheld that complaint, too.

 

Burns also admitted to the BBC’s editorial standards unit that his script “may have strayed too far in the direction of precis”..

 

A copy of the letter sent by the BBC to complainants has been posted on various Liverpool FC fans’ forums over the weekend.

[Earl Hafler]

We're having a sports memorabilia auction at work next month and someone brought some footy items in today. Amongst the usual programmes and tickets were a couple of newspapers i've not seen for nearly 20 years - The Green Un and Sheffield Star from that weekend.

Two hours i spent looking at the reports. The pics are nothing short of harrowing. Faans pushed up against the fences, bodies left on the pitch, their faces covered with jumpers or coats, one fan stood in the middle of the pitch praying... but it's interesting to note the change in approach the papers would take in the following few days.

 

I'm having a word with the vendor and hopefully the proceeds of that lot will be donated to the HJC. As it's not an official charity we'll no be able to attribute it but i'll be able to work around that.

[Kahnee]

We're having a sports memorabilia auction at work next month and someone brought some footy items in today. Amongst the usual programmes and tickets were a couple of newspapers i've not seen for nearly 20 years - The Green Un and Sheffield Star from that weekend.

Two hours i spent looking at the reports. The pics are nothing short of harrowing. Faans pushed up against the fences, bodies left on the pitch, their faces covered with jumpers or coats, one fan stood in the middle of the pitch praying... but it's interesting to note the change in approach the papers would take in the following few days.

 

I'm having a word with the vendor and hopefully the proceeds of that lot will be donated to the HJC. As it's not an official charity we'll no be able to attribute it but i'll be able to work around that.

 

Nice one