Agencies/London
The BBC has apologised for a Question Time production gaffe that saw a Stormont minister labelled as being a member of “Sinn Fein/IRA”.
Sinn Fein Education Minister John O’Dowd, who was a panellist on Thursday night’s show in Belfast, was referred to by the term in a seating plan.
The title directly linking the republican party to the paramilitary organisation has long been used in a pejorative way by members of the unionist/loyalist community in Northern Ireland. Sinn Fein, which while closely associated with the Provisional IRA during the Troubles has always insisted it was a separate and solely political organisation, claims the tag was created to justify attacks on its members in the conflict.
The BBC said the seating plan, which was attached to a camera in the studio, was written by a “technical staff” member working on the programme. It was not broadcast during the transmission but an audience member took a picture of the plan and tweeted it.
The BBC admitted the wording was “insensitive and naive”. “The BBC is very sorry for any offence caused,” said a statement from the corporation.
“The note was written by one of the technical staff on the programme for his own use. It was not authorised or endorsed by anyone on Question Time. The person responsible has been left in no doubt that it was insensitive and extremely naive. We are sure viewers of the programme will be clear that this note had absolutely no bearing on the content of the show.”
Question Time is produced by independent company Mentorn.
O’Dowd had earlier demanded an explanation. He said: “I had agreed to take part in the Question Time programme on the basis of respect and equality. After the programme was finished I was made aware of the floor plan pinned to a camera branding me a member of ‘SF/IRA!’. For the BBC to adopt the tag 20 years into a peace process is beyond belief.”