Whistleblowers will be 'frightened from going to BBC' after it 'abandoned' Jimmy Savile source to face libel battle alone

Whistleblowers will be deterred from speaking out to the BBC after the corporation “abandoned” Jimmy Savile abuse scandal source Karin Ward.

This was the warning from former BBC Newsnight producer Meirion Jones after Freddie Starr lost his libel action today against Ward.

She was sued over comments she made to the BBC and to ITV News and over a broadcast on Channel 4 News.

But she had to defend the case on her own without the assistance of broadcasters. And she could only afford legal representation when David Price Solicitors took the case on a on a no-win-no-fee basis.

The refusal of BBC and ITV/ITN  to support her from the outset has been condemned by Ward as a "shameful indictment of the way large corporations deal with vulnerable people".  (more...)

Whistleblowers will be 'frightened from going to BBC' after it 'abandoned' Jimmy Savile source to face libel battle alone

Background:

Freddie Starr loses libel damages claim against Jimmy Savile source Karin Ward