Weekly forced to backtrack over ‘Gypsies’ claim

From Hold The Frontpage

A weekly newspaper which accused ‘Gypsies’ of destroying a local football pitch was forced to backtrack after a complaint to the press watchdog.

John Eglin complained to the Press Complaints Commission over a story in the Border Counties Advertiser under Clause 1 of the Editor’s Code of Practice, which covers accuracy.

He claimed the article, which referred to “Gypsies” having destroyed a football pitch, would have misled readers into believing that the group was from the Romani community.

The damage had in fact been done by a Christian group which had been attending a religious gathering.

The complaint was resolved when the newspaper published a clarification stating: “An article of 5 July stated that a youth football pitch had been destroyed by gypsies.

“We have been asked to make clear that the group was not ethnically Romani but was in fact a Christian group who had been attending a religious ceremony in the area.”