Lawlor reportage - Muzzling of media must be avoided

FOLLOWING the death of disgraced politician Liam Lawlor fundamental questions have been left hanging over two major issues — the coverage by certain Sunday newspapers of the fatal accident in Moscow coupled with mounting concerns that his absence might affect ongoing tribunal investigations into bribery of politicians by developers.

From a media viewpoint there can be no denying that key aspects of reportage surrounding the ex-Fianna Fáil TD’s death were utterly indefensible.

Lending weight to this standpoint, senior Independent Newspaper executives have apologised to the Lawlor family, admitting the Sunday Independent story suggesting that a woman passenger in the car was a prostitute was inaccurate. The woman injured in the crash was a legal secretary and interpreter.