Scottish Christian.com

Home > News > Scottish Christian News Monitor

Sunday Herald issues apology

The Sunday Herald yesterday devoted an entire page to an apology over the controversial use of the phrase, ‘bead-rattling’, in a sports article on Celtic FC manager, Gordon Strachan.

The apology comprised a by-lined piece by sports editor, Stephen Penman. He confirmed that the writer, Kenny Hodgart, would no longer write his ‘Leftfield’ column for the newspaper, and pointed out: “I have also instigated an investigation to discover how this unacceptable terminology was able to get through our production system.”

The newspaper also carried eight letters from readers on the issue - some threatening to stop buying the paper unless action was taken and an apology carried.

Penman’s apology began: “In an article headlined ‘Fans Fail to Show Celtic Class with Strachan Slating’ for last week's Sunday Herald, Kenny Hodgart used the following sentence: ‘Some fans would probably rather have a bead-rattling Hoopy the Huddle Hound in the dug-out.’

"The use of the term ‘bead-rattling’ is clearly unacceptable in a quality newspaper. Indeed, it is clearly unacceptable in any context and in any walk of life."

Full story at All Media Scotland.

Full apology at the Sunday Herald.