La BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) costretta a risarcire i danni e a chiedere pubblicamente scusa a Guelfo e Paolo Marcucci per il contenuto privo di fondamento e diffamatorio del suo programma “The Price of Blood” andato in onda il 8 ottobre 2006 all’interno dello show televisivo Panorama.
Nello Statement in Open Court che questa mattina, a distanza di quasi 5 anni dalla messa in onda del programma, è stato letto dinanzi alla Alta Corte di Giustizia di Londra, la BBC ha infatti confermato che le dichiarazioni rese erano non veritiere ed ha formulato scuse ufficiali ai Marcucci. A partire da oggi e per un periodo di 7 giorni, BBC pubblicherà il testo sul sito del suo show televisivo Panorama. “Riconosciamo la falsità di queste accuse – si legge nella dichiarazione che sarà diffusa sul canale – e ci rammarichiamo per avere fornito qualsiasi diversa rappresentazione della realtà. Chiediamo scusa ai Marcucci, pagheremo i danni e le spese legali da loro sostenute”.
Lo comunicano in una nota Guelfo e Paolo Marcucci, che esprimono piena soddisfazione per il provvedimento che oggi, definitivamente, sancisce l’infondatezza delle insinuazioni e delle accuse mosse nei loro confronti.
Apology to Paolo and Guelfo Marcucci
Our programme, “The Price of Blood”, broadcast on 8 October 2006, reported on an unsuccessful prosecution in Italy of Paolo and Guelfo Marcucci, the owners of the Marcucci group of companies which included, at the time, the biopharmaceutical company Sclavo SpA.
It was not our intention to allege in the programme that the Marcuccis had sold or distributed blood derivative products that were infected with HIV and Hepatitis C, or which were likely to be infected. Nor did we intend to suggest that as a result they had endangered lives.
We accept that these allegations are untrue and regret any impression we gave to the contrary. We have apologised to the Marcuccis and agreed to pay damages and their legal costs. – source Panorama
An Italian company has accepted substantial compensation from the BBC over a Panorama programme alleging it sold blood products infected with deadly diseases.
Father and son Guelfo and Paolo Marcucci, who own and control the Marcucci Group of companies, sued over an October 2006 documentary called The Price of Blood.
The programme contained damaging and untrue allegations, their solicitor-advocate, Graham Atkins, told Mr Justice Eady at the High Court.
The programme referred to a criminal prosecution brought in Italy against the claimants and others relating to the production of some of their blood products dating back to the mid-1990s.
Although it correctly reported that the proceedings were dismissed at the preliminary stage and they were acquitted of the charges against them, it nevertheless suggested that the claimants were guilty of having sold blood products infected with diseases such as HIV or Hepatitis C which could result in death.
Atkins said the BBC now accepted that the allegations were untrue, apologised and has agreed to pay a substantial sum in compensation and legal fees.
Clare Kissin, for the BBC, said it did not intend to allege that the claimants had sold or distributed infected blood derivative products or that they had endangered lives.