Adjudication No. 25 (November 1977) [1977] APC 20

ADJUDICATION No. 25 (November 1977)

Mr. M. O'Brien, a Solicitor working for the Fitzroy Legal Service, Victoria, complained on behalf of a Pentridge Prisoner about a report in the Melbourne Herald of June 28, 1977.

The report, which dealt mainly with what it called an explosive situation at Pentridge, stated in one paragraph that the prisoner was the man behind a power struggle in "B" Division.

Mr. O'Brien maintained that there was no substance in this allegation and that his client had been in "H" Division since February of this year.

The Council is of opinion that the fact that the prisoner is in "H" Division does not necessarily mean that he was not the man behind a power struggle in respect of "B" Division.

While the Council would be alert to protect prisoners from unfair treatment by the Press, in this case it is not in .a position to ascertain whether the allegations complained of were untrue and therefore it does not consider that the complaint should be upheld.