Adjudication No. 1148 (January 2002) [2002] APC 3

Adjudication No. 1148 (January 2002)

The Australian Press Council has dismissed a complaint about the Toowoomba Chronicle's report of a woman suing the Anglican Church for damages as a consequence of being molested by a boarding master whilst she was a student.

Mark Flamsteed complained that it was totally inappropriate for a community newspaper to print on its front page detail of specific sexual acts and the name of the school.

In a letter to the editor, he argued that there could be no benefit in detailed reporting of events that took place more than 10 years ago, and pointed out that such a report was detrimental to the minds of children and forced parents to address sensistive issues with them. He further argued that the report showed disregard for the feelings of the victim, her parents and other teachers at the school.

All of Mr Flamsteed's criticisms of the newspaper were published by the Chronicle.

Courts are necessarily concerned with conduct which is often distasteful but it is a cornerstone of the judicial system that the public have access to its proceedings. In the overall scheme of things the public's right to know is deemed to be the greater good for the community as a whole.

Accordingly the Press Council accepts the right of a newspaper fully to report cases that came before the courts. Provided the coverage of the evidence is fair and accurate, there is no breach of the Council's principles. In the context of court reporting those principles are concerned not so much with the subject matter but with the manner in which it is reported.

There has been no breach of principles in this case.