Resolution Statement – 06044-24 A woman v edinburghnews.scotland.com

Summary of Complaint

1. A woman complained to the Independent Press Standards Organisation that edinburghnews.scotland.com breached Clause 1 (Accuracy) of the Editors’ Code of Practice in an article headlined “North Berwick couple ordered to move house after making neighbours' lives 'a nightmare’”, published on 24 0ctober 2024.

2. The article reported on the complainant and her husband – who were found guilty of causing three sets of neighbours fear and alarm between October 2018 and October 2021, and three charges of stalking. The complainant was also found guilty of assaulting a neighbour and breaching bail conditions on three occasions. The article referred to the complainant as a “staff nurse, who has since lost her job.” It also reported that the couple “were also handed 15 year non-harassment orders banning them from contacting six neighbours.”

3. The complainant said that the article was inaccurate in breach of Clause 1 as it reported she had lost her job. She said she had resigned from her job and provided documentation to support her position.

4. The complainant also said the article was in breach of Clause 1 as it reported that both she and her husband had been handed 15-year non-harassment orders. She said her husband’s harassment order was for three years.

5. The publication did not contact the complainant during the 28 day referral period after IPSO had made it aware of the complaint.

Relevant Clause Provisions

Clause 1 (Accuracy)

i) The Press must take care not to publish inaccurate, misleading or distorted information or images, including headlines not supported by the text.

ii) A significant inaccuracy, misleading statement or distortion must be corrected, promptly and with due prominence, and — where appropriate — an apology published. In cases involving IPSO, due prominence should be as required by the regulator.

iii) A fair opportunity to reply to significant inaccuracies should be given, when reasonably called for.

iv) The Press, while free to editorialise and campaign, must distinguish clearly between comment, conjecture and fact.

Mediated Outcome

6. The complaint was not resolved through direct correspondence between the parties. IPSO therefore began an investigation into the matter.

7. The publication accepted the references under complaint were inaccurate and offered to amend them and publish the following correction at the top of the article:

“Note from the editor: We previously reported that [the complainant] had been ‘sacked’ from her job as a staff nurse. This was inaccurate and [the complainant] resigned of her own accord. We also reported that both [the complainant and her husband] were handed 15 year non-harassment orders. This was inaccurate, as [her husband’s] order was only for three years. We apologise for these errors, which have now been corrected.”

8. The complainant said that this would resolve the matter to her satisfaction.

9. As the complaint was successfully mediated, the Complaints Committee did not make a determination as to whether there had been any breach of the Code.

Date complaint received: 01/11/2024

Date complaint concluded by IPSO: 17/01/2025