BBC apologises for tagging John O’Dowd as ‘Sinn Fein/IRA’ on Question Time seating plan
John O’Dowd, who was a panellist on the show from Belfast, was given the label in a seating plan attached to a studio camera.
The BBC today apologised for a Question Time gaffe that saw a Stormont minister labelled a member of “Sinn Fein/IRA”.
John O’Dowd, who was a panellist on last night’s show from Belfast, was given the label in a seating plan attached to a studio camera.
It was not screened, but an audience member tweeted a photograph of the plan.
Mr O’Dowd said the “SF/IRA tag” had been used during the Troubles to “justify attacks on Sinn Fein members and our families”.
The Sinn Fein Education Minister said: “For the BBC to adopt the tag 20 years into a peace process is beyond belief.”
The BBC admitted the wording was “insensitive and naive”.
A statement said: “The BBC is very sorry for any offence caused. “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 inappropriate, insensitive and extremely naive.
“We are sure viewers of last night’s programme will be clear that this note had absolutely no bearing on the content of the show.”
The seating plan also appeared to refer to the Democratic Unionist Party, which was represented on the programme by Ian Paisley Jnr, as “Goodies”.
Question Time is produced by independent company Mentorn.
