Mens Human Rights Ireland and the Irish Examiner

On Wednesday 7 January 2015 the Irish Examiner published a report under the heading “Women want Government to tackle abortion, violence and childcare”.  The article was a short report on the principal findings of a survey carried out by the National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI) into the top issues which women feel the government should address.

An organisation called Men’s Human Rights Ireland (MHRI) complained to the editor of the Irish Examiner that the survey had been based upon “a carefully phrased online poll conducted by an openly ideologically radical feminist organisation, the National Women’s Council of Ireland, amongst their own members, who are for the most part likewise radical feminists”. They argued that the members of the National Women’s Council of Ireland did not represent the opinions of the women of Ireland. Men’s Human Rights Ireland claimed the article breached Principle 1.2 (Truth and Accuracy) of the Code of Practice for Newspapers and Magazines. This states

1.2 When a significant inaccuracy, misleading statement or distorted report or picture has been published, it shall be corrected promptly and with due prominence

The editor of The Irish Examiner replied to the complaint stating that the report was a “truthful and accurate representation of a survey conducted by the National Women’s Council of Ireland” and that he did not propose to comment on the complainant’s view of the National Women’s Council as these views were “irrelevant in the context of a complaint under the Press Council’s Code of Practice”. 

After receiving this response from the Irish Examiner the Men’s Human Rights Ireland organisation made a formal complaint to the Press Ombudsman’s office that the article published on 7 January had breached Principle1. 2 of the Code.

During conciliation the editor reiterated his view that the article was a truthful and accurate representation of the National Women’s Council survey results, as communicated to its reporter by a spokesperson for that organisation, and that there had therefore been no breach of the Code.  Conciliation concluded at this point and the complaint was referred to Press Ombudsman for decision.

The report was a straightforward account of the findings of a survey carried out by the National Women’s Council of Ireland. Men’s Human Rights Ireland complained that the headline and report were misleading and inaccurate.  Most of the report carried in the Irish Examiner was made up of direct quotations from the Director of the Women’s Council.  There is no evidence that the report contained any significant inaccuracy, misleading statement or distorted report. No information was given in the report as to the nature or extent of the survey.  Whilst it might have made for a more comprehensive account of the survey had the report contained information about who was surveyed, the size of the survey, when it was conducted, etc. this was not necessary.   Principle 1.2 was not breached in the article and the complaint is therefore not upheld.

20 February 2015

The complainant appealed the decision of the Press Ombudsman to the Press Council of Ireland.