Operation Yewtree – The Sun’s “Exclusive” News re Latest Arrest – Which Media Knew In March

I wrote a few weeks ago about the strange antics of the press regarding Operation Yewtree, and the way in which the publication of the names of those being questioned and arrested seemed to depend on the public perception of the accused.

So the press had no scruples in announcing the questioning of people like Jim Davidson, Max Clifford, Dave Lee Travis and Gary Glitter – they are not, for various reasons, believed to be universally loved by the British public.

Last month the arrest of an 82 year old man, who shortly thereafter became an 83 year old man seemed to indicate that the media were, to some extent, “judging” whose arrests should be publicised.

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Charles Green’s Own Goal – Says Rangers Fans Threatened Him Earlier In Year! D’oh!

Death threats by Rangers fans! How dare a newspaper make such vile accusations? Who is responsible for the latest calumny upon the hundreds of thousands of decent supporters of the Ibrox team? We have seen Alex Thomson of Channel 4 News castigated and ridiculed for daring to suggest that threats have come from elements of the Rangers support to journalists, newspapers, football officials and publishers.

Now the Scottish Sun has joined the chorus of anti-Rangers spin by repeating someone else’s no doubt invented accusations against the fans of Rangers.

The Sun reported today as follows:- (My comments are in bold).

IBROX chief Charles Green was warned by cops to be on his guard against deadly mail bombs amid fears he could be targeted by crazed Rangers fans. Worried Green was forced to move between a string of safe-houses after police received credible intelligence that his life was in danger following his takeover of the club.  He was ordered to check his car for explosives and Ibrox staff were given special instructions for handling his post.

Oh. Mr Green says that he was threatened. That cannot be right. This must be a re-hash of old stories, taking comments out of context to create a false impression. Surely this is the Sun simply seeking to ambush the share issue as part of its alleged hatred for Rangers?

The Sun Serialisations – No to “Downfall” – Yes to Book by “Feared Gangland Hood”

As readers will know, the Scottish Sun elected not to serialise “Downfall” by Phil Mac Giolla Bhain, having initially announced its intent to do so.

The Scottish Editor explained the decision in an editorial no longer available on the Sun website. Extracts from it read as follows:-

“THE Scottish Sun has never been afraid of controversy. Throughout the years, we have never shied away from tackling difficult subjects. We have never taken the soft option, the easy route, the quiet life.

We knew he (Phil Mac Giolla Bhain) was a controversial figure, but it was clear from the book he had written that he had a story to tell. And we felt it was a story that needed to be told to you, so that you could make your own minds up. So that you had a chance to read the behind-the-scenes details about the downfall of Rangers. So that you had a chance to see where the blame lay for the collapse of the club.

Hot Tip for “The Sun” on Biggest Financial Scandal in UK Sport – Guest Post by Kenny McCaffrey

This was sent to me as a comment yesterday, and I have been too busy to pop it up on the site until now. You will see that Kenny yesterday morning managed to predict the rise up the charts for Phil’s book!

I have slightly edited Kenny’s post re developments since he sent it. I am sure he will let us know if ever a response is received!

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Hi Paul, I trust you have read the nonsense ‘Sun Says’ in the Scottish Sun this morning (03/09/12) announcing that it won’t, after all, be serialising Phil MacG’s new book – but with no real reason apart from the ludicrous (and nonsensical) statement about him being “tarred with the same sickening brush” (eh? doesn’t’ that mean THEY are actually doing it?).

“Playing the Man and Not the Ball” – The Sun, Rangers and Downfall by Phil Mac Giolla Bhain

In which I consider the nature of ad hominem “arguments”, rather than reasoned debate, and the allegedly shifting views of a major Scottish organisation on free speech. Why did the Sun decide not to serialise the upcoming book by Phil Mac Giolla Bhain? What if anything will the Sun do about receiving “the kind of disgusting abuse that sadly infects some of Scottish football’s blogs and forums”? Finally, are the Offensive Behaviour and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act and the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act still in force, or have they been secretly repealed?

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An ad hominem is an attempt to negate the truth of a claim by pointing out a negative characteristic or unrelated belief of the person supporting it. There are various varieties of ad hominem argument, including the circumstantial, the tu quoque and the argument of guilt by association.