Irresponsibility in the BBC

This week has brought one of those tragic news stories of two British children found dead in their holiday bungalow on the Greek island of Corfu. Their father and his girlfriend were found unconscious in the same room but are now recovering.

It has been determined that the cause of the deaths was a faulty heater unit which was pumping carbon monoxide into the bedroom and representatives of the hotel have now been charged with manslaughter.

Before the findings of the pathologist were released the BBC News reporter was happy to tell us all that 'rumours were circulating in the complex that the children had died as part of a bizarre suicide pact'.

At the time she imparted this morsel nothing was known as to the cause of death, and I was astonished that a family which had been subject to a sudden tragic bereavement should have the further slur cast upon them publicly that the children may have been killed deliberately by their father and his girlfriend. Even had it been proved true, to suggest it with absolutely no medical findings available at that stage, was outrageous.

I contacted the BBC and suggested that this was at best a breach of good taste and the spokesman promised to take my views to the news department and provide an answer. I suspect I will be waiting a very long time.



The hotel complex where two children died