Complaint
A listener complained that a discussion about the ´óÏó´«Ã½â€™s decision not to provide live television coverage of the Orange Order’s Twelfth of July demonstration in Belfast showed bias and included offensive and derogatory remarks about the Orange Order. The ECU considered the complaint against the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Guidelines on Impartiality, Fairness to Contributors, and Harm and Offence.
Outcome
In the 90 minutes allocated for the discussion, the programme heard from a range of guests and callers, both supportive and critical of the ´óÏó´«Ã½â€™s decision.Ìý And whilst the representative of the Orange Order was asked by the presenter about the institution’s position in relation to the Catholic community, the ECU took the view that the challenges were firm but polite and within the bounds of audience expectation for this kind of programme.
Ìý
The complainant also objected to unspecified remarks by a ‘nationalist’ commentator, which he said were offensive to members of the Orange Order. In the ECU’s view, although the debate did become somewhat animated towards the end of the programme, no further intervention by the presenter was necessary for due impartiality to be maintained and the views expressed were not likely to cause significant harm and offence in the context of the wider discussion.Ìý ÌýÌý
Not Upheld