TV siding with terrorists—Thatcher

Press, 24 March 1988, Page 10

TV siding with terrorists—Thatcher

NZPA-AAP London The refusal of [British and Irish teleyision ccpn'panies to provide police with unpublished filmj of sectarian murders in Belfast has raised questions of legal obligations and [press freedom] [ h - [| The British Prince Minister, Margaret Thatcher, has I; accused | the[: companies of siding wittr .the terrorists for withholding film;|of the murder of;two British soldiers I who blundered into' a republican [funeral procession in Belfast last Saturday. [ , The Government believes the film , will hjelp polite identify the killers. “I believe [the media included, [has; a bouhden duty to do. ev'erythin[g they can to [ see

those who perpetrated the ; terrible crimes we all saw on TV, [which disgusted the whole] world, are brought [to[; justice,” Mrs Thatcher: told [Parliament. Three [ television companies, ; including the State-owned 8.8. C.,, have refused to [hand [oyer the film because they say it would endanger the lives of television ci;ews and journalists [ reporting in Northern Ireland. [ ‘ 1 , The Royal Ulster Constabulary is contemplating court action [ against them to force release of the film. 'I; jI I [ | | A 8.8. C.; .news executive said the [49 seconds of film of the[ attack I did not show the ; soldiers being shot and | would not help in identification. ' |

• The 8.8.C.’s directorgeneral, Michael Checkland, stood! by the corporation’s decision. “If we allowed automatic free Access to untransmitted! material, the next victims of such events! could be our own staff,” he said, r “We could, then lose our ability to [report what is happening! in [Ulster.” | Political,' support came from -David Steel, joint leader of the newlyformed Sbcial and Liberal Democrats'.! i ?■ . ' | “There[ can be no doubt the risk involved for (TV) crews : would be greatly increased? they would be under constant suspicion from within the Northern Ireland community,” he said. I 11 J