BBC admits Heysel and Hillsborough ‘inaccuracies’

Jan 28 2008

THE BBC last night admitted one of its flagship politics shows breached editorial guidelines by making inaccurate claims about the Heysel and Hillsborough disasters.

The corporation’s editorial standards unit has upheld complaints made by angry Liverpool FC fans in the wake of an edition of the Politics Show, broadcast late last year.

Reporter Patrick Burns first said the Heysel disaster led to the segregation of football fans at English football matches; the practice was already commmonplace. The BBC upheld that complaint on the grounds that it had not met standards of accuracy.

Mr Burns then went on to say that the deaths of 96 Liverpools fans in the Hillsborough disaster was caused by “a late influx of ticketless” fans, in contradiction of the findings of the inquiry led by Lord Taylor.

The BBC’s investigation concluded that the Hillsborough claim was not correct, and upheld that complaint, too.

Burns also admitted to the BBC’s editorial standards unit that his script “may have strayed too far in the direction of precis”.

A copy of the letter sent by the BBC to complainants has been posted on various Liverpool FC fans’ forums over the weekend.