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Thank you for taking the time to complete our complaints form. The next step is for you print this page and post it to the Press Complaints Commission along with a dated copy of the article in question and any relevant correspondence.
If we do not receive the hard copy of your complaint and the article within seven days the Commission will not process your complaint.
Our postal address is:
Press Complaints Commission
1 Salisbury Square
London
EC4Y BJB
25th November 2001
Mr. Cormac Boomer
36 Riverdale Park North Belfast BT11 9DL
02890 202624
cormac.boomer@ntlworld.com
Dear Sir or Madam
I am writing to complain about the following publication:
Sunday Life
On the date of:
11th November 2001
The Headline was:
Movie Bid Over Mystery Flight
My complaint details are as follows:
It would be my opinion that this article contravenes section 1(i) of the Code of Practice, as the story obviously has no factual background and is plainly just a sensationalist "filler".
It also contravenes Section l(iv) as it very clearly fails to distinguish between conjecture and fact.
In relation to Section 3, as the paper have never contacted my family to discuss this story or felt it necessary to enlighten us as to who these supposed, "Hollywood scriptwriters", are, I would suggest that they have also failed to respect my families private life and should be held to account for this unjustified intrusion.
Section 5 states that in cases involving personal grief or shock, publication must be handled sensitively at such times. I think you will agree that this type of sensationalist story is the lowest form of journalism. No account was taken of our feelings, especially as we are nearing the 6th anniversary of my sons disappearance.
If as your Code of Practice states that all journalists have to, "maintain the highest professional and ethical standards", I think you will agree from reading the article that this paper and this journalist in particular fall far below these standards.
Lastly I believe that the journalist also falsely attempts to give the impression that the Sunday life has in some way been working closely with my family to help us discover the truth about the disappearance of my son.
Nothing could be farther from the truth.
Yours Sincerely