Newpaper Error

[medsecslave]

My son appeared in Court on a public order offence related to football to which he pleaded not guilty. The local newspaper has named him with our address as pleading not guilty to threatening behaviour and racially aggravated violence, neither of which are true. Is there any action we can take over this now that it looks like we have a racist in the family?

[Sandy-Wroe]

Ask the paper to print a correction.

[Rollo]

Threaten to sue them!

[fredpuli47]

Rollo is closer to the truth than you may think ! Seriously, newspapers are under a duty, if they have any sense, to publish a correction in a case like this.What they've published carries the defamatory innuendo that your son is racist, in that it suggests that there must be enough prima facie evidence to justify a charge which has a racist element. Had you been a millionaire you'd no doubt be issuing a writ, on his behalf (assuming he's under age), for defamation, libel, IF they didn't publish a correction (libel actions are very expensive to run,) ! Newspapers have a defence, in certain circumstances,that they promptly published a correction (You see such corrections al the time).If they don't then they are in danger of being successfully sued for a lot of money and costs. (That's why you see such corrections !)

So don't rush off and sue (even if you are a milionaire) but demand that they publish a correction.

[medsecslave]

Thanks for your answers. I'm definitely going to take things further as the problems are already starting. My daughter has had a black friend block her on facebook and I'm completely dreading going into work tomorrow. I just don't know how to react. I doubt anyone will comment to me personally (although they might) but I know they'll all be talking about it. I didn't tell anyone he was in trouble with the police and didn't expect it to get into the papers but it just got tagged on to a bigger story in relation to the same match but with the wrong charges. Now I feel like I owe everyone an explanation!!