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Why do Irish news media often not state the exact charges?

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    #2
    Duffryman
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 547 ✭✭✭Duffryman


    Usually it's for the reason that the exact charges can be long and technical, particularly in an unusual case or in a case where many charges are brought. The journalist uses the phrase 'charges relating to .......' so as to keep the piece relatively straightforward and accessible to the average reader.

    Remember that these are media reports, rather than court records. No obligation to put in every single detail of proceedings and/or charges, so long as overall, the report is a fair and accurate summation of the case.


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    #3
    expectationlost
    Registered Users Posts: 11,753 ✭✭✭✭expectationlost


    Duffryman wrote: »
    Usually it's for the reason that the exact charges can be long and technical, particularly in an unusual case or in a case where many charges are brought. The journalist uses the phrase 'charges relating to .......' so as to keep the piece relatively straightforward and accessible to the average reader.

    Remember that these are media reports, rather than court records. No obligation to put in every single detail of proceedings and/or charges, so long as overall, the report is a fair and accurate summation of the case.

    but you can't really understand something unless you at least been given the basic facts and the exact charges are basic facts. Summarizing the charges might have been ok for paper but lack of space isn't an issue anymore.


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    #4
    Duffryman
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 547 ✭✭✭Duffryman


    I think that in the example you gave, reporting that he admitted uploading people's photographs to a pornographic site is sufficient by way of giving basic facts that are easy to understand.

    I don't know what the exact charges were in that case. Possibly some sort of harassment or technical assault. Spelling out all charges in their full legal-ese form would actually make that case more difficult to understand than simply saying 'uploading photos to a porn site'.

    Anyway, I just gave you the answer as to why court reporters do that. I used to be one myself, but am not now. If you're not satisified with the reason that I've given, then I'm afraid I can't help you any further.


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    #5
    expectationlost
    Registered Users Posts: 11,753 ✭✭✭✭expectationlost


    people keep saying there aren't laws to tackle these kinds of things, I want to know exactly what this guy was charged with.


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    #6
    Duffryman
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 547 ✭✭✭Duffryman


    I'd actually be curious to know the exact charge myself. But I'm just answering your original question about why it is that the full charges aren't spelled out sometimes. Sufficient for the vast majority of people to know what a defendant did (or is alleged to have done), how he or she pleaded, and the outcome of the case. They don't necessarily want the finer points of the law.


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    #7
    expectationlost
    Registered Users Posts: 11,753 ✭✭✭✭expectationlost


    Summarizing the charges might have been ok for paper but lack of space isn't an issue anymore.


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