Lawyers Claim Journalists Were ‘Resentful’ of Alan Jones’ Rise to Prominence
A legal letter sent to Nine newspapers claims some journalists were green-eyed over Alan Jones’ rise to prominence, which has resulted in “demonstrably false” allegations in a series of articles over the past week.
False Allegations and Resentment
In a concerns notice sent to the editors of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, lawyer Mark O’Brien stated that the allegations made against Mr. Jones were false and had “no basis in fact.” The articles alleged that Mr. Jones indecently assaulted six young men without their consent.
According to O’Brien, certain journalists employed by Nine newspapers have been resentful of Mr. Jones’ prominence as a commentator on political and cultural issues. He claims that the allegations made against Mr. Jones were a concerted attempt to destroy his reputation.
Demand for Apology and Removal of Articles
In the concerns notice, which is the first step in defamation proceedings, O’Brien demanded that the articles be removed from the websites of Nine’s newspapers. He also called for a front-page apology to be published by the media group. Additionally, O’Brien requested compensation and coverage of legal costs by Nine’s newspapers.
Response from Nine Newspapers
Tory Maguire, executive editor of The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Brisbane Times, and WAToday, responded to the concerns notice by stating that they stand by Kate McClymont’s reporting on the matter. Maguire emphasized the importance of defending this public interest journalism.
Police Informed of One Matter, But No Others
The articles published by The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age alleged that Mr. Jones indecently assaulted several young men. However, none of the men made a statement to the police regarding these allegations.
One individual, referred to as Neil, claimed to have been indecently assaulted by Mr. Jones in January 2017. Neil stated that he initially reported the alleged assault to the police but ultimately decided not to pursue the matter. The police spokeswoman confirmed that there was no current investigation into the alleged incidents.
Gravely Serious Imputations
The concerns notice highlighted that the articles contained “gravely serious” imputations of criminal conduct by Nine. These imputations have caused significant harm to Mr. Jones both personally and professionally, according to the letter.
Both Mark O’Brien and Tory Maguire have been approached for comment by The Epoch Times.
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