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EMPLOYEES AT THE BBC knew of complaints against DJ Jimmy Savile, but senior management were not told because of a culture of fear that still exists, a new report has found.
Dame Janet Smith lead a review into cases of sexual abuse by Savile. It found that eight informal complaints were made.
Smith said some BBC staff were “more worried about reputation than the safety of children”.
The report says “serious failings” and a “macho culture” at the BBC allowed Savile to abuse 72 people.
Solicitor Jessica Standley of Slater Gordon Lawyers, the law firm representing the victims of Jimmy Savile, told Today with Sean O’Rourke that she finds it ‘inconceivable’ that rumours didn’t reach higher levels in BBC.
I find that difficult to accept and indeed the victims will … what the victims really wanted from this report was the truth and accountability and I think they’ll feel this hasn’t been unearthed.
“I still find it remarkable to believe suspicious didn’t go up to higher levels and if they scratched the surface of the rumours it would have been uncovered.”
Other key findings:
The Guardian reports that Savile sexually assaulted 57 females and 15 boys. Three incidents of rape and attempted rape took place on BBC premises.
The youngest victim of a sexual assault was just eight years old. The offences took place from 1959 to 2006.
Savile’s victims of Savile in connection with his work at the BBC include eight people who were raped and one instance of an attempted rape. Others faced sexual assaults;
The majority of the cases took place in the 1970s;
The largest number of victims was in connection to music show Top of the Pops.
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Savile was one of the UK’s most popular TV and radio personality, best known for his work on Top of the Pops and Jim’ll Fix It.
A year after his death in 2011, allegations of abuse surfaced.
The investigation by Smith, a former British high court judge, was set up by the BBC in 2012.
Rona Fairhead, chair of the BBC Trust, apologised shortly after the report was released.
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BBC News states a separate report found that BBC management in Manchester were aware of the inappropriate sexual conduct of ex-broadcaster Stuart Hall.
Yesterday, radio DJ Tony Blackburn said he was sacked by the BBC because of a disagreement over his evidence to the inquiry into Savile.
Blackburn said Smith’s report makes no suggestion he was guilty of any misconduct with a 15-year-old in 1971.
What they want is to know that lessons have been learnt and things will change in the future.
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@John D Doe: Don’t forget how badly the shinners did last time out in the locals, then bang (excuse the pun) big performance in the ensuing general election.
@Ulysses: Ireland First, the white Nationalism Party, the Führer Party, ze Irish people are anti-immigrant far-right or hard-right. Hope that is not too sensitive for you.
@9QRixo8H: Being concerned about the impact of mass immigration on the economy, health, education etc is not hard or far right. No matter how many times you say it is. You don’t understand political leanings and swallow up the sound bites like a sheep.
@Mick Joe: Did I upset you? Single-issue anti-immigrant parties who’s focus is to target social group(s) in society are authoritarian hard right. Look up the political spectrum. Can’t even tell people what they are these days. And btw, clearly the electorate couldn’t care less about this so called “impact of mass imMigRatiOn” as the governing party (Greens/FFG) were returned, even gaining seats, despite so called “mass immigration”.
@Ulyssees: Ireland First, the ethno Nationalist Party, the Führer Party, ze Irish people are anti-immigrant far-right or hard-right. Hope those facts are not too sensitive for you.
@9QRixo8H: I wouldn’t say upset but just concern about the state of our education system in this country. When people of your ilk are challenged on the concept of extreme political leanings, you just default to the “you”re just far right” stance.
Btw authoritarianism on minorities are a structure of both hard right and hard left extremes. You sound pretty left to me. Classic horseshoe theory in plain sight.
@9QRixo8H: I’m not upset ( I already stated that)…I’m just disappointed about your (and the population in general) substandard understanding of what constitutes an extreme political leaning. You’ll be the first to scratch your head when faced with a person who expresses concern about mass immigration but simultaneously supports LGBTQ rights. How do they fit in your simplistic person pigeon-holing system?
@Mick Joe: why would that confuse anybody. Is being lgbt now a political statement? Are you suggesting that being LGBT and burning down a hostel are incompatible?
@9QRixo8H: seems they been turning things around massively though lately, border checks, flight checks, reduced income for Ukrainians,… Hence the increase in the polls..
@Mick Joe: there is a difference between being concerned about the current immigration system and spouting lies. I don’t know a single person who isn’t concerned about how we are dealing with immigration and the numbers of people seeking asylum. But the right wing racist mentioned above make up lies because they don’t want anyone coming in. The call asylum seekers “illegal” when there is nothing illegal about claiming asylum. They talk about “unvetted males” constantly when every single person who claims asylum has their fingerprints run through Interpols system. They are far more vetted than any Irish person moving in next door. They lie because they know their racist buddies won’t fact check them. We all want the asylum system fixed. But only the far right feel the need to make up lies.
@9QRixo8H: Human rights??? So you believe economic migrants pretending to be asylum seekers have a right to arrive here, rip up their passport and we should be made pay them and house them? Looks more like the Governments recent tactics of trying to appear tougher on dishing out money to asylum seekers and using their Government controlled propaganda machine( RTE) have payed off. Then there’s all the votes from the asylum seekers. The low turn out from working class areas only shows that they feel so let down by the whole lot of them they must see no point in bothering at all. What difference will it make? They’ll just be getting screwed either way.
@Ger Huet: The British Government used plenty of “Bang” against the nationalist community in Northern Ireland and here too for hundreds of years. Several political parties in Northern Ireland on both sides would have had ties with organisations involved in the troubles. It was a war. Many Countries in the World have huge armies “Bang” and their Governments use them when they see fit to. How long do the Sinn Fein haters intend dragging up the troubles as some weapon against them?
@9QRixo8H: What are these gains for Greens/FFG you speak of? FF down 3.9% since 2019, FG down 2.4% and Greens down 2.1%, are you telling porkies again? Oh and btw Sinn Fein up 2.2% but shur we’ll say nothing about that.
@Darren Rowan: No . Because people who moan from the sidelines don’t actually get involved in exercising their democratic rights and voting those they oppose out of power.
Easier to moan online than vote
@9QRixo8H: You are a simpleton with absolutely zero to add to the discussion. Far right far right far right! Oh really? Good point, very well made and intelligently put. Cr3tin.
@John D Doe: the sad thing is this happen last time most of their voters don’t bother with the local elections it’s playing not their hands and weedie Harris can’t see what’s coming
If we can get rid of Daly, Wallace, and MacManus as MEPs, it will be a great result! Shinners floundering in the locals is another cause for celebration. I’d say Mary Lou will be getting a phone call shortly…
@honey badger: Now that would be so sweet to see those 3 gone forever. It was a toss up for me to give her my 21st preference vote or the Muslim cleric in blanch my last vote.
@Martin Finnerty: Not necessarily, local politicians can be quite effective and supportive on a local level. In rural places, it’s the person people vote for, not necessarily the party. And of course, where such councillors are perceived as doing a good job, they will be voted for again. In our neighbouring LEA, two councillors retired after 57 and 50 years respectively.
@Martin Finnerty: yes to a certain extent but also I think many have such a distaste and sickening of those in power and opposition they literally don’t want to even know about it. They’ve destroyed young people’s chances of having a home and family basic things in life. A lot of the younger generation are looking abroad now unfortunately, what z disgrace the politicians of thus country are, absolutely ashamed of them i voted for what it was worth as pointless as it has fast become.
@Athena: I agree 100%. My reasons for voting in the local elections are a lot different to the GE. Most people I’ve spoken to are the same. It the local elections I voted for people more than party. There are good people at a local level in most of the parties.
@Solar Luna:
Considering it’s likely to be a reduction for the majority who were paying it I’m not sure it would harm the government to be honest.
900k households, out of 1.6 million paid last year, 100k down from the previous year before the RTE scandals.
Also FFG voters tend to be older, and more likely to be already paying it
The problem with the far right(other than their racism) or those perceived as far right is how they get their message across. They’re are loud, aggressive, overbearing and let’s be honest, they are mostly pretty slow too
@G: That’s the thing, normal people don’t post much, but they flood social media and people just watch them and think “loons”. Did you see Derek Blight saying “you are a guest here in our country” to an immigrant and the immigrant replied “so is your wife”!!!!!
@9QRixo8H: The first time I have seen that, lol. They have turned the immigration situation into an ‘us against the garda’ situation. I think that’s how they get more like-minded baboons on board.
@9QRixo8H: Normal people don’t post much. Haha…. presumably putting yourself in the “normal people” category. But yet spouting your far left propaganda across every article here.
It’s not government policy, Mary/SF.You have been too soft on our borders. Maybe you will put it right before a general election. People have jumped ship in their droves. It’s time you accepted this.
NOBODY cared about immigration, other than the skin-triggered racists, because the governing parties of Greens/FFG who are overseeing this so-called migration “issue” were not only returned, they gained seats. The anti-immigrant parties were rejected into oblivion, again. SF are not going to pander to closed border parties that gained NOTHING.
@paddy fc: no you don’t. You say “too soft on our borders” as if it’s some kind of policy. What you and other slow people fail to realise is that we are obliged by international law to process asylum seekers. It’s not a policy by any government party.
@Gearoid MacEachaidh: obliged, lol. Here’s another one. We have a moral obligation. We have been overwhelmed with economic migration, and it’s time you woke up to this fact.
@paddy fc:no and here we have another one who doesn’t know what he’s talking about because lying is easier than reason. We have to process people who seek asylum under international law. Nothing to do with morals. And anyone who is an economic migrant should be refused asylum and returned. But they have to be processed first. You can’t just look at someone and say they’re an economic migrant without due process, as well you know. Unless you think that we should just abandon the rule of law and trials and just send people to prison because they “look guilty”. So yeah I am another one. Another one who is interested in facts not opinions and emotions. Thankfully the votes this weekend shows that there are far more people like me than there are like you.
@paddy fc: yes we are obliged under current law. You may not like it but not liking it doesn’t make it less true. Seriously what is it about that that you lot don’t get? Do the rules around immigration need to be changed, yes, and the changes coming down the road in 2025 will certainly help reduce the amount of economic migrants we get here. But in the meantime we have to follow the rules whether you like it or not. As for your comment about a moral obligation,, that’s your opinion, not mine.
@Gearoid MacEachaidh: wake up will ye. They are coming from safe countries, i.e., first point of contact. They are arriving with no proper documentation. They don’t need to be processed. They should be turned around and sent back immediately.
@paddy fc: your “wake up will ya” comment only serves to show your lack of argument. It makes no difference if they come from safe countries or if they dispose of their documents, they still have to be processed. That is the legal process. I would encourage you to actually read the legislation but you’re not interested in facts are you. You think the country should be ruled on opinions and emotions. Meanwhile in the real world we have laws. Do the laws need changing, yes. But you can’t just refuse to process people based on an opinion. You have to follow the law. There is a reason why the far right didn’t get the results they wanted and you lot predicted. It’s because most people know how laws work and you are your kind aren’t interested in the law.
@paddy fc: and there is no law that says you have to claim asylum in the first safe country you enter. Should there be, yes, but there isn’t. You’d think you’d actually look that up before commenting.
It’s very simple. MOST people who actually vote (probably not the commenters here), vote for people who actually care about their community. My vote went to those people.
I am yet to see anyone from SF, Labour, FF doing something for my community.
@Alex: exactly! People vote for people who are interested and work hard in the community when it comes to local elections. For most people the party is irrelevant.
@Gearoid MacEachaidh: Exactly ! My vote went to few people who are from totally different party and some independent because I know they actually work for the community !
It didn’t go to a specific ideology or party but to specific people !
Sharia Fein:) o my o my that what happens when you have candidates that think more of the Palestinian people than your own when you use Palestinian flags on your websites when your main concern is Palestine and not the working class people of Ireland
Change of subject here, but shout out to RTE. Watch Calling Card, the Rory Gallagher biopic on the Player. Public service broadcasting at its best, worth the licence fee on its own.
@Glen Kelly: local elections are completely different than national elections. In saying that it looks like SF got it seriously wrong to the point where Mary Lou needs to consider her position.
@Glen Kelly: You mean the lazy people won’t get off their arses to vote. I voted and thankfully the candidates I voted for are looking good to get elected. The PEOPLE of Ireland have sent a clear message.
@Glen Kelly: well now how did she get it wrong if people asked her to run enough candidates so that they can lead local/national govt. She listened. And done that. And as you said, local and nationals are different; SF lost in locals 2019 while getting the highest percent in the nationals.
@9QRixo8H: Not much point in running loads of candidates if they are no good or the public have no idea who they are. 1 candidate called to my door, he was FF. If SF want people to vote for them they need to put in the work, no point hoping the protest vote will get you over the line. They didnt seem to have any strategy and you have to put that down to poor leadership. This was a chance for SF to send a message and get some momentum heading into a general election next year and they dropped the ball big time.
@9QRixo8H: I don’t see much of a prospect of a SF led government after the next general election or even their participation in a coalition. More likely FF, FG led coalition with Labour/ Green/SD and maybe some independents. The prospect of another 5 long years in opposition looms for SF.
I really don’t care about elections, Europe, or politicians etc. So instead, here’s a recipe for garlic bread.
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Cut a loaf of French bread into halves, then lengthwise again. Mix softened butter with minced garlic and chopped parsley (optional). Spread on bread and bake for 10-15 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese (optional) and broil for an extra minute for an extra cheesy crust.
Keep bullx rapping like FFFG and you will go down even further. Poor poor g*ldsheekers., Falestinians,… Wait till thousands arrive, even Simon has done a Uturn just in time…. Too slow Mary , ur also betting on the wrong horse to get elected. Go and have a walk on Talbot Street and you’ll know what I’m talking about. Even the Gardaí are out of their debt!!!
Who gives a toss about the elections theses are people no one knows, we are conditioned to vote a person based mainly on a photo on a lamp post I have only had one politician in my life call to the door.leaflets dropped at 6am and they call this democracy
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