Tag Archives: sun uk

Sorry for calling you an “evil terrorist”

October 26, 2009 – 8:00 am

sun_uk3On 29 March and 1 April last year we reported that Mr Patel was an evil terrorist who had been jailed for his part in a transatlantic jet terror plot. While he had been convicted under Section 58 of the Terrorism Act of possessing material that might be useful to terrorists, the court accepted that he unwittingly held documents for a friend of his father. Mr Patel has never had any involvement with terrorism acts. We are happy to set the record straight and apologise to him. Link

By Craig Silverman | Posted in Major Errors, Newspapers | Also tagged , , | Comments

Apology

September 22, 2009 – 8:00 am

sun_uk3IN a report on May 5, 2009, headlined “Riddle of Boruc, the brunette and his hair straighteners”, we claimed that Artur Boruc had brought two girls to the house he shares with partner Sara Mannei and had sex with one of them. We published a picture which we said showed him straightening one of the girls’ hair. We now accept the picture was in fact of Mr Boruc and his younger sister Paulina in Poland some years earlier, and that neither did Mr Boruc invite back nor have sex with either of the girls in our story. We apologise to Mr Boruc and Ms Mannei for any embarrassment caused.

By Craig Silverman | Posted in Major Errors, Newspapers | Also tagged , , | Comments

The Sun (UK) falls for terrorism hoax

September 17, 2009 – 8:00 am

sun_uk3The Sun (U.K.) recently reported in a front page story that several famous Jews were being targeted by Muslim extremists. Then, on Tuesday, it published an article noting that it had fallen for a hoax:

A PHONEY terrorism “expert” has confessed to duping newspapers and a senior politician.
Glen Jenvey has admitted making up stories about Islamic fundamentalism, including a faked list of prominent Jewish “targets”, which included Lord Alan Sugar.
He revealed his scheming in an interview with BBC reporter Tom Mangold, aired on Sunday’s edition of Donal MacIntyre’s Radio Five Live show.
Jenvey told how he fabricated the list of Jewish targets by posing as a fundamentalist on an extremist website where he urged others to suggest names.
He then leaked the made-up list to a trusted news agency, used by The Sun, and online forum Ummah.com was wrongly accused of being used to prepare a backlash against UK Jews.
Jenvey – who had been described as “an extremely capable and knowledgeable analyst” by Tory MP Patrick Mercer – said: “I’m fully responsible for the story. The Sun was deceived …

But the paper hasn’t apologized or formally corrected its report. From the Guardian:

The Sun today admitted that its front page story claiming Lord Alan Sugar was a Jewish “target” of extremist Muslims was wrong.
But the paper did not apologise or offer a correction to readers about the 7 January story, which carried the headline “Terror Target Sugar”. The story quoted claims by “anti-terror expert” Glen Jenvey that online Muslim forum Ummah.com was being used by extremists to target leading British Jews in revenge for Israel’s invasion of Gaza.
Later that month MediaGuardian.co.uk reported claims that Jenvey was responsible for the posts on the website.
The Sun story named Sugar, singer Amy Winehouse, producer Mark Ronson and Labour peer Lord Levy as among those allegedly being targeted by Islamic extremists.
News International’s daily tabloid subsequently removed the story, which carried the bylines of John Coles and Mike Sullivan, from its website. The story came from the news agency South West News.
Jenvey has also appeared on BBC2’s Newsnight as a terror expert commenting on internet monitoring of extremist groups …

By Craig Silverman | Posted in Major Errors, Newspapers | Also tagged | Comments

Blame it on the gypsies

August 20, 2009 – 8:00 am

sun_uk3SURREY Police have not blamed gipsies for an attack on their force helicopter, no staff in their operations rooms were threatened by gipsies and no gipsy site was being targeted for a raid as we reported on May 14. We apologise for the mistakes and are happy to set the record straight. Link

Thanks, Telsa!

 

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Good to know

August 17, 2009 – 8:00 am

sun_uk3BBC2’s Classic Goldie showed the drum ‘n’ bass artist’s foray into orchestral music. And not old clips of the Blue Peter dog getting jiggy with Peter Purves’s leg.

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A 2005 apology from the Sun (U.K.) that deserves recognition

August 11, 2009 – 8:00 am

sun_uk3I thought I’d already posted this remarkable 2005 apology/correction for the Sun (U.K.), but it doesn’t show up in my archives. And since two people sent it to me yesterday, it deserves recognition:

IN an article published on The Sun website on January 27 under the headline ‘Gollum joker killed in live rail horror’ we incorrectly stated that Julian Brooker, 23, of Brighton, was blown 15ft into the air after accidentally touching a live railway line. His parents have asked us to make clear he was not turned into a fireball, was not obsessed with the number 23 and didn’t go drinking on that date every month.

Julian’s mother did not say, during or after the inquest, her son often got on all fours creeping around their house pretending to be Gollum.

Also, quotes from a witness should have been attributed to Gemma Costin not Eva Natasha. We apologise for the distress this has caused Julian’s family and friends. Link

Thanks, Dave and Alex!

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Apology for fabricated quote

July 22, 2009 – 8:00 am

sun_uk3FURTHER to our preview of last night’s game published in Thursday July 9th edition, we wish to clarify that Ian Bermingham did not give the quote attributed to him. The level of wages stated in the headline for Mr Bermingham was inaccurate. We regret any distress caused and accept that Mr Bermingham had declined to discuss with us the level of his wages with Shamrock Rovers.

From the original article:

I only earn £300 a week but I’ll still stop Cristiano

THE first player to mark Cristiano Ronaldo following his £80million move to Real Madrid is on £300 a week and still lives at home with his mum.

Ronaldo and Bermingham come face to face when Real visit Rovers’ tiny Tallaght Stadium in Dublin on July 20.

Tickets for the friendly sold out in two hours and pals of the defender reckon it could be the game that makes HIS name.

But not for his fantastic play – for nobbling the Portuguese wing whiz on his debut for Real’s new crop of Galacticos.

Since landing the toughest job in football the Irishman’s email inbox has been overloaded with cruel suggestions.

Bermingham said: "A lot of people seem to think if I really hammer Ronaldo it will put my name all around the world and I would be some kind of a hero. But, no – I could never, ever think like that.

"As long as I can catch him he’ll know I’m there, but I want to swap shirts with him so it’s better that he’s still standing at the end of the game!" …

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Adding to their troubles

July 15, 2009 – 8:00 am

sun_uk3Eamon Dunphy’s daughter Colette would like us to point out that her son Braiden, five, is seriously ill but not terminally ill as stated in yesterday’s article on pages 16 and 17. We are happy to clarify this.

By Craig Silverman | Posted in Newspapers | Comments

Apology

May 11, 2009 – 8:00 am

sun_uk3We refer to yesterday’s article “More Low Blows From Warren”. We would like to make clear that Frank Warren has promoted over 2,000 fights and has always paid boxers their purses as obliged by the British Boxing Board of Control.
The litigation with Joe Calzaghe involved a claim for “profit share”.
Sports Network Ltd has already paid $4million to him over the fight. Mr Warren informs us he is not only offering to pay a tenth of what is due.
Sports Network Europe continues to trade and upcoming fights including Amir Khan’s world title fight on June 27 are not affected and will still be promoted by Frank Warren. We apologise to Mr Warren for any embarrassment caused.

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British politician plagiarizes from The Sun

March 6, 2009 – 3:58 pm

A report from the Independent (UK):

Jacob Rees-Mogg, the tweedy Conservative candidate for the new parliamentary seat of North-East Somerset, has been caught red-handed trying to rip off the Sun newspaper in his latest campaign leaflet.
Rees-Mogg – who, as the son of the former Times editor Lord Rees-Mogg, should perhaps know better – admitted that a flier posted through residents’ doors in the constituency contained text lifted directly from an article by the Sun’s political guru Trevor Kavanagh. “Though the piece expresses my views, I did not specifically write it, although I agree with the points made,” says the Moggster, pictured left.
“While the points are valid, plagiarism is a bad thing and I will drop a note to Mr Kavanagh apologising. We won’t ask the person who did write this to write for us again. It’s an embarrassing matter for which I apologise.”
To his credit, Kavanagh is taking what amounts to intellectual theft with a pinch of salt. “Jacob was good enough to call and apologise” he told me. “I told him I was flattered and not at all offended.” Link

Via Greenslade.

By Craig Silverman | Posted in Advertising, Government, Plagiarism | Also tagged | Comments

False tale of Facebook party leads to flowering of UK press apologies

March 4, 2009 – 11:06 am

One U.K. television station and U.K. eight newspapers have published/aired apologies and paid damages after they falsely reported that a child’s birthday party had spun wildly out of control due to its promotion on Facebook. In reality, “only very minor damage was caused”during the party, it was never promoted on Facebook,  no alcohol was served, and the birthday girl’s mother was there the entire time. From the Guardian:

David Price, of London law firm David Price Solicitors and Advocates, told Judge Charles Gray at the high court in London today that Amanda Hudson had been “extremely shocked and distressed” by the false picture that had been painted of her daughter Jodie’s birthday party in Marbella, Spain…
“The Daily Mail, Daily Telegraph, the Daily Mirror, the Sun, the London Paper and the Daily Express have published prominent apologies in their respective newspapers and online,” Price told the high court.
“Times Online, Sky News and Metro Online have published apologies on their respective websites. In addition, Mrs Hudson will be receiving a substantial sum in damages and her legal costs will be paid,” he said.
The court heard that the coverage claimed her house had been either “trashed” or “destroyed” by drunk and out-of-control gatecrashers.
“The true position is that the house was not trashed, wrecked or destroyed. Only very minor damage was caused to one door and no property was stolen,” Price said.
“Similarly, no furniture was trashed or thrown into the swimming pool. Mrs Hudson did not permit alcohol to be served and was in attendance throughout the party as were a number of private security guards that she had employed as a reasonable precaution…

A sample of the apologies, which remind me of 2006’s Correction of the Year:

sun_uk3Our report (”400 Trash Eur4M Villa”, 30 March 2008) said that Amanda Hudson’s home on the Costa del Sol had been trashed by teenagers attending her daughter’s 16th birthday party, who had also stolen property.
We now accept that these allegations were untrue. We apologise to Amanda for the embarrassment caused.

mirroruk2OUR report (”Off their Facebook”, May 30, 2008) said that Amanda Hudson’s house on the Costa del Sol had been wrecked by drunken and out of control teenagers attending her daughter’s 16th birthday party, who had also stolen property. We also referred to an internet posting in which it was claimed that Amanda had punched Jodie because of what happened. We now accept that these allegations were untrue and we apologise to Amanda for the distress and embarrassment caused.

expressOUR report (”GBP 4M villa trashed by party-crashers”, 30 May 2008) said that Amanda Hudson’s home on the Costa del Sol had been trashed by teenagers attending her daughter’s 16th birthday party, who had also stolen property. We now accept that these allegations were untrue. We apologise to Amanda for the embarrassment caused.

dailymailAN article on 30 May 2008 ‘Trail of destruction at £4.4m villa after 400 crash Facebook party’ suggested that Amanda Hudson failed to exercise parental control over her daughter’s 16th birthday party and that her property was badly damaged by drunken teenagers. We accept that these allegations were untrue and we apologise to Amanda Hudson for any embarrassment caused.

Thanks, Dave!

By Craig Silverman | Posted in Major Errors, Newspapers, Television | Also tagged , , , , , | Comments

Quite the apology

January 12, 2009 – 8:00 am

sun_uk3IN my column on August 22 I suggested that Sharon Osbourne was an unemployed, drugaddled, unfit mum with a litter of feral kids. This was not intended to be taken literally. I fully accept she is none of these things and sincerely apologise to Sharon and her family for my unacceptable comments. Sorry Sharon…

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Don’t hassle The Hoff

October 31, 2008 – 1:08 pm

On 19 June 2007, we reported that David Hasselhoff had celebrated winning custody of his two daughters by getting drunk and making a nuisance of himself in a Hollywood bar.
We now accept that David did not drink any alcohol that evening and nor did he irritate other customers.
We apologise to David for any embarrassment caused. Link

Thanks, Iris and Andrea!

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Apology

October 20, 2008 – 8:00 am

On 5 September we reported on Spanish litigation brought against Darragh MacAnthony. We stated that the claim was for £ 150million and that it arose out of Mr MacAnthony’s withdrawal of a valuable gift of shares.
Our report was based on agency copy. We now understand that the claim is in fact for approximately £ 8million and that it does not arise from the gift of shares. Our report contained other errors concerning Mr MacAnthony and we have written to him apologising for any distress and embarrassment caused. Link

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A pseudo-apology from The Sun

September 12, 2008 – 8:00 am

The Sun may have inadvertantly suggested that former England manager Sven Goran Eriksson was a prize twerp in selecting Theo Walcott for the 2006 World Cup squad.
We now accept Mr Eriksson was ahead of his time and correctly recognised his ability. We wholeheartedly apologise. Link

More here.

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Apology

August 18, 2008 – 8:00 am

AN article on March 29, “Everyone off my bus, I need to pray”, stated that Arunas Raulynaitis, a London bus driver and a Muslim, asked passengers to leave his bus so he could pray and that passengers later refused to re-board the bus because they saw a ruck-sack which made them think he might be a fanatic.
The article included pictures of Mr Raulynaitis praying.
We now accept that these allegations were completely untrue.
Mr Raulynaitis is not a fanatic and he did not ask passengers to leave his bus to allow him to pray. In fact, he was praying during his statutory rest break. We apologise to Mr Raulynaitis for the embarrassment and distress caused. Link

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Apology

May 27, 2008 – 8:00 am

IN several prominent articles in July 2006, we wrongly stated that during the World Cup final the Italian defender, Marco Materazzi, used vile racist abuse by calling Zinedine Zidane the son of a terrorist whore thus goading Zidane into angrily headbutting him. We also said that Mr Materazzi was a hypocritical liar when he denied it and was rightly condemned for what he said. We withdraw these allegations and accept that Mr Materazzi did not say anything of a racist nature. We apologise to Mr Materazzi for any distress caused and have agreed to pay him damages. Link

The Daily Star previously apologized for similar reasons.

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Apology

May 22, 2008 – 8:00 am

From May 14:

Our report into the deaths in New York of Jackie Timmins,47, and Andrew Hardie,48, both of Yeovil, Somerset on February 15, contained some details which were insensitive.
We apologise to the victims’ families and friends for the distress caused.

Thanks, Gordon!

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The Sun says sorry

November 27, 2007 – 8:00 am

In “The Sun Says” column on July 24th we said that during a hearing concerning IVF doctor, Mohammed Taranissi, the License Committee of the Human Fertilisation and Embryo Authority (HFEA) came close to branding Angela McNab, the HFEA’s former chief executive “a liar whose evidence could not be taken at face value”. We now accept that the Committee did not come close to calling her a liar or cast doubt on her evidence and regret the error.

By Craig Silverman | Posted in Major Errors, Newspapers | Also tagged | Comments

Apology

October 29, 2007 – 7:00 am

On August 6 we reported that Helen Green, Deputy Head Teacher of Newlands Primary School, Wakefield, had told pupils to write out the Muslim Call to Prayer as handwriting practice.
We also published an editorial criticising Mrs Green for setting the exercise. On August 10 we printed readers’ letters which were also critical of Mrs Green.
We now accept that Mrs Green played no part in setting this exercise. It was instead set by a supply teacher.
We apologise to Mrs Green for the distress caused by this error.

By Craig Silverman | Posted in Newspapers | Also tagged | Comments

Ono she didn’t

June 8, 2007 – 8:00 am

Our May 30 story headed “Uuurrgh! My Corgi kebab is a bit ruff” said that Yoko Ono was on a radio show and “tasted” dog meat which was being eaten by an animal rights activist.
The report, which was filed to us by several leading press agencies was wholly wrong and Ms Ono did not appear or take part in the show.
We sincerely apologise to Ms Ono for the offence and distress caused to her. Link

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The Morien Jones apologies, cont. again

April 27, 2007 – 8:00 am

The apologies keep rolling in for Morien Jones. This story goes back to last summer. Some newspapers continue to get the story wrong, while others are just getting around to correcting their reports from last year. Below are the latest installments. Read the previous ones by starting here.

FURTHER to our article on May 26 2006 about Lynett Burgess’s acquittal for indecent exposure, we have been asked to make clear her neighbour Morien Jones did not film Ms Burgess in her garden. The video shown in court was shot by Mr Jones’s builder as she walked naked in front of Mr Jones’s house.
We apologise to Mr Jones for any embarrassment caused. Link

On May 25 2006 we reported that Lynett Burgess has been cleared of indecent exposure for sunbathing nude in her garden. We stated that her neighbour, Mr Jones, had taken a video of her in her garden which was given to the police. We have been asked to make clear that Mr Jones’s builder in fact took the pictures when Ms Burgess was on Mr Jones’s drive.

In an article published on 18th April (‘Naked’ nurse’s living hell) we incorrectly reported that a builder had filmed Lyneth Burgess sunbathing naked in her own garden and that her neighbours, Morien and Nia Jones, reported her to police for this. In fact the builder’s film, taken on police advice, showed Ms Burgess walking naked on the driveway at the front of the Jones’ property, not on her own property. We apologise for any misleading impression given of Mr Jones and his family.Our agency-based report on the unsuccessful prosecution of Lynette Burgess for indecent exposure (25 May) suggested that she had been filmed sunbathing naked in her garden by a neighbour, Morien Jones. In fact the film, taken on police advice by Mr Jones’s builder in the context of possible court proceedings, showed Ms Burgess walking naked on the driveway at the front of Mr Jones’s property.
We apologise to Mr Jones for any embarrassment caused by the misunderstanding. Link

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Another one of a kind apology from a UK tabloid

June 27, 2006 – 8:00 am

On 13 February we published an article headed “Who bum it?” reporting that two Premiership footballers and a music industry figure had a “gay romp” in which a mobile phone was used as a “gay sex toy”. On 16 February we published a picture of Mr Cole and his fiancee headed ‘Ashley’s got a good taste in rings’.
Some readers have understood that Mr Cole was one of the two Premiership players involved in the gay sex and that Choice FM DJ, Masterstepz, was the music industry figure.
We are happy to make clear that Mr Cole and Masterstepz were not involved in any such activities. We apologise to them for any distress caused
and we are paying them each a sum by way of damages. The Sun wishes Ashley all the best for next Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final.

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“…no revellers dived into bedrooms in search of drunken romps”

May 10, 2006 – 8:00 am

A correction from May 1:

Following our article on Princess Eugenie’s birthday celebrations, we have been asked to point out the party was closely monitored by adults throughout and while a small amount of mess was cleared away at the end of the evening, there was no damage to furniture, no revellers dived into bedrooms in search of drunken romps and to describe the house as being trashed was incorrect. We are happy to make this clear and regret any distress our report caused.

An excerpt from the offending story:

ASTONISHED witnesses told last night how Princess Eugenie’s 16th birthday party descended into a drunken rave -with teenage guests snogging, boozing and being sick.
Fifty youngsters had flocked to the Hooray Henry bash at the Duchess of York’s Pounds 10million mansion.
But rather than sitting down to a meal prepared by caterers, some began knocking back champagne, spirits and strong lager they had secretly smuggled in -and quickly became legless.
…The witness told how randy guests dived into BEDROOMS in search of drunken romps.
Others PASSED out because they were so drunk, while several VOMITED inside the property.
And rooms were TRASHED, with carpets stained and cigarettes stubbed out on furniture as the March 18 party continued into the early hours, to the strains of a blaring disco.

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Please note: Teri Hatcher does not have sex romps in her VW camper

April 20, 2006 – 8:00 am

An apology:

AN item on 2 August last year “Telly Teri’s Romps in Van” stated that actress Teri Hatcher had sex romps in her VW camper van at her home.
Although published in good faith, we now accept that the article was totally incorrect and we apologise to Ms Hatcher for the embarrassment caused. Link

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