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THIS FRONT PAGE from The Sun in the UK has come under fire today, with many commentators accusing the newspaper of going on a witch hunt.
There has been an angry backlash on Twitter for what has been described as “irresponsible reporting” with many pointing out that it should not have printed the boy’s face on the cover of the national publication. (Note: The blurring in the photo above was done by TheJournal.ie)
A number of MPs have also got involved in the fight. Conservative MP Sarah Wollasto is also a GP. She tweeted:
She also told the Huffington Post that she would be reporting the item to the Press Complaints Commission.
It is a completely outrageous headline, and to link that with an identifiable picture of a child is wholly inappropriate on every level.
“This is absolutely not lighthearted. What possible justification can there be for including this child’s face, or for saying this child is marked by the devil? It is the most irresponsible piece of journalism I have seen for a long time.”
Meanwhile, writer Graham Linehan also exclaimed that “Leveson did not happen”. He also referenced the Victoria Climbié abuse case, as referenced by the New Statesman.
Victoria Climbié was an eight-year-old girl, living in London, who was tortured and murdered by her guardians who cited fear of Satan in court as a reason for beating the young girl.
In the piece, the boy’s mother says she and her fiancée are mystified as to how the mark appeared on her four-year-old son. A close-up of the skin appears to show two circles and two lines creating a burn-like mark. The boy’s injury has since healed.
Many people on Twitter believe it to be a burn from a hairdryer but the pair said looking at the mark made them think “something unnatural had visited my boy”.
“Something or someone made the sign on him but we just can’t explain how.”
She also likened it to something that would happen in a Sci-Fi movie and admitted that she had contacted a US website which claims to specialise in alien abductions.
A statement from The Sun following the controversy said the story had already been publicised by the boy’s parents through Facebook.
“We sought to treat it in a lighthearted fashion, highlighting the apparently fanciful link to the occult.
“We are conscious of the code and guidance around paying parents. We did not encourage the parents to embellish or expand the story; it came to us, and had already been the subject of discussion (raised by the parents) on social media.
“It’s also worth noting that no concerns were expressed about the child’s welfare. An unusual mark appears, the mother gets it checked out by a doctor who confirms there is no medical reason why it should be there, and discharges her. Social workers are not involved.”
The report does not make the front page of the Irish Sun but the story does appear on page 19.
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I wouldn’t put this rag in the bottom of bird cage I have more respect for birdsh*t
I don’t know why people buy this rag. 20p they charge for it, I think it’s a waste of paper. Then I saw the price in Ireland. €1. Mad to pay that.
Article isn’t too flattering for the kid’s parents.
Social services should intervene there, I mean, what sort of a parent consults an American web page about alien abductions before maybe, I dunno, going to the doctor??
Hey, at lease Alien Abductions would sound more believable. But I wouldn’t stick it on front page.
With everything going on in the world at the moment the sun sees this as front page material, it really shows the type of audience they’re looking for. Ignorant brain morons.
That’s what always gets me. So much real news to report good n bad and what’s usually on their front pages?
JANET FROM BB: IVOR WAS CHEATING WHEN I WAS PREGNANT!
TRICIA FROM XFACTOR: BREAST IMPLANTS MADE ME MORE CONFIDENT
I remember one time they were reporting about Luke Fitzgerald’s girlfriend, in a big hysteria cos she was a young looking model (and…?) they clearly took the photo of him by jumping out in front of him as he was walking down the street as the menacing glare he was giving them was far more entertaining to me than their story.
@ O Swetenham, so true, Everyone blames digital media for the decline in Newspapaer circulation……but surely the plummeting standard of journalism must have a lot to answer for. The Daily mail and these red tops are one of the worst things about modern day Ireland. They dumb down society, one C-lister celebrity story at a time. It’s infuriating to see ‘The Independent’ evolving into these too. The only paper worth reading is the Irish Times.
You have to hand it to them…they know their target market and their target market don’t particularly care about actual news.
Ridiculous story, how awful for that little chap to be plastered all over the front page.
The thing is that ‘The Sun’ readers would probably believe it
Ridiculous rag of a “newspaper”
Don’t look at the sun people it’ll hurt your eyes!
There are a few reason why the parents went to The Sun with this, and they all smack of terrible parenting. People like that shouldn’t be allowed have children.
If that’s the sign of the devil, he’s been playing way too much Battlefield :D Do these people ever stop and think about what they are actually saying before they speak? Beyond ridiculous.
Sounds like the parents are 100% responsible for this. The Sun can’t be expected to be held to any high moral code but a child’s parents would have surely had to consent to something like this.
The world is full of idiots. This will only encourage stupid people. Get a cool scar on your kid and the sun will pay you money for it. That’s scary
While you may be right, and it could be for financial reward or parents of below average intelligence, the press both here and in the UK never cease reminding us that they have ethical and moral standards they adhere to. Self Regulation.
In the wake of the Levenson Inquiry and it’s subsequent report in 2012 it’s obvious that was a waste of money, very little of that was ever put into effect, despite the famous testimonies, despite the public outcry, despite the shock. And it’ll be the same here.
This excuse for journalism will probably make a half ar5ed donation to a children’s charity as an apology, and they, desperate for any financial assistance, will grit their teeth and accept it. And life will go on.
We should follow merseyside…you won’t find the s*n in Any shop there. Rag paper.
well said
Within 30 miles I heard !
I wonder what the circulation of the Sun has been since they took Page 3 out of the Irish version ?
Did not effect it one but. Log on to ABC website and see circulation figs. Still 60k people buying that rag every day
#JFT 96 don’t buy The Sun
The Sun is an grubby little rag with a long history of dubious stories owned by one of the most unpleasant creatures on the planet. Why anyone buys this garbage is beyond my comprehension.
Perhaps a Sun reader would like to come on the Journal and explain the appeal.
Especially since most of the posts to this point have expressed their contempt for it.
I don’t think The Sun realised the potential danger of this article. While it is an absolutely rubbish excuse for a ‘news’paper, it has a vast readership. If the wrong person or people saw the article (people of extreme religious beliefs, etc.) they could have taken it upon themselves to find this boy and ‘rid him of Satan’ or something to that effect. With such a sensational and recognisable picture broadcast to millions of people, who knows what could have happened.
Call me dramatic, but you never know what kind of people are out there. And when it comes to children, you can’t be too careful.
Do you remember when a taboid in UK published a supposed list of pedophiles? Many of them were actually sex offenders in the vv board sense (statutory rape etc) their list included some pediatricians who were innocent who’s homes were ransacked by angry mobs.
They’ll threaten Glen Greenwald and his spouse w/prison for reporting on a highly illegal big brother network..but these lot can do this kinda thing unimpeded?
This explains what might have happened, something involving a hair-dryer:
Looks like the S*n paid for a story about an abused child. I hope social services are on their way for a chat with the “parents”.
I agree, unfortunately it seems social services feel there is no problem. Sad that a child is used by parents to make money.
The Sun in tasteless rag shocker…
What was the f”"”ing editor thinking or smoking when he oked this cover .even they have hit a new low . The mind boggles .
What was the f”””ing editor thinking or smoking when he oked this cover .”
– Circulation – there is no such thing as bad publicity – and yes – the Sun is garbage – but people buy it .
proves we are moving backwards – the devil and gods – this BS re religion should be laid low by any thinking person
Pathetic paper
I never buy nor read this rag.
‘social workers are not involved’ ?? Well they should be.
That looks 100% like a hairdryer burn . Was it an accident or something more deliberate . As to the sun “newspaper well what do you expect . They are turning into the Sunday Sport !
The so called journalists that write for it should hang their heads in shame
Filthy horrible excuse for a paper, anyone with half a brain would leave it on the shelf, I cant wait for the day it joins the news of the world on the scrap heap
A rag of a paper always has been and always will be ..
It’s same mark that Colin Farrell had when he played Bullseye
Millions of people criticised for irresponsibly buying tabloid newspapers every day.
Remember, “Scousers Never Buy The Sun” nuff said.
The stupid, it burns!!!
Seriously what do ye expect from the sun .. Garbage paper !!
The S*um for all your tits, GG’s, tits, gosip, tits, footy, selebs, tits.
The Sun newspaper should be called the darkness!!! It’s the one is sick with content that’s the work of the devil! They write what they like, when they like & their journalists are no better than bullies in a school yard writing what they like! Disgrace. They should be shut down!!!!!!!
Anything for 5 mins of fame and money….. at the expense of a poor child. Very sad and disturbing that those so called ‘parents’ would do such a thing
The white wizard in the €Vatican€ will be on high alert.
Aren’t tabloid editors and journalists now considered a lower form of life than lawyers??????
To call the sun a rag or newspaper is an insult to rags and newspapers
The Sun.
A great bunch of lads Ted.
Could be the Son of BullsEye too.
That medieval mock up is fantastic.
Stone Island logo, not son of satan, but son of Chav
The sun also reported that Liverpool fans were responsible for Hillsborough, that p*ssed on dead fans and robbed them
How could the sun be so sick posting this rubbish a mark that looks like a hair dryer burn and doc and mom should know kids play with stuff all the time like hairdryers that paper should be shut down and mom needs to make sure she has electrical stuff or anything that could hurt her child out of harms way and even if he did get burned his prob afraid to tell his mom like 4 year old I know are as thinks the mom would beat them
Was that Prince Williams pup ?
Folks I know this May come to as a shock to some of you, but there is no such thing as the devil. You can include Santa Claus, tooth fairy in this list. So saying a child is born with its mark is farcical and a reflection of the rag that wrote it. Unfortunately people pick up the message that the star intended, that is that the child is the devil incarnate. Which is beyond ridiculous and does not warrant conversation
The mark looks like a burn from the wire grill on the front of a hair dryer. The position of the mark could not have been easily made by the child, so it must have been done by someone else in the house. The parents should be investigated for child abuse.
FFS
Everyone is forgetting one important factor , the News gets paid for huge advertisement , but each news event a majority of them will get some form of Payment …
Better the Divil ye know I say…..
That’s the sign of Bullseye ; Dare-devil’s enemy is it not ?
Does Kimberly-Clark own The Sun?
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