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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Force apology over biker pictures | Force apology over biker pictures |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| North Wales Police have apologised after its chief constable displayed pictures of a decapitated biker without asking his family. | |
| Images of Mark Gibney, 40, from Merseyside, were shown at a road safety briefing by chief Richard Brunstrom. | Images of Mark Gibney, 40, from Merseyside, were shown at a road safety briefing by chief Richard Brunstrom. |
| The force said a letter had been sent to the family to "apologise for the distress caused by the publicity". | The force said a letter had been sent to the family to "apologise for the distress caused by the publicity". |
| Mr Gibney's brother Paul said the apology was "not good enough" and the family were seeking legal advice. | Mr Gibney's brother Paul said the apology was "not good enough" and the family were seeking legal advice. |
| He added: "It is closing the stable door after the horse has bolted. | He added: "It is closing the stable door after the horse has bolted. |
| "Whether the meeting was private or not makes no difference because it was immoral to show such photographs of my brother." | "Whether the meeting was private or not makes no difference because it was immoral to show such photographs of my brother." |
| Pictures of Mr Gibney - including one showing his head in his helmet, eyes open - were shown to journalists and road safety experts during a briefing on Thursday. | Pictures of Mr Gibney - including one showing his head in his helmet, eyes open - were shown to journalists and road safety experts during a briefing on Thursday. |
| We are very sorry for the distress that has evidently been caused North Wales Police | We are very sorry for the distress that has evidently been caused North Wales Police |
| North Wales Police admitted it had not sought the family's permission. | North Wales Police admitted it had not sought the family's permission. |
| Mr Brunstrom claimed the pictures had been shown in confidence and accused some sections of the media of "distorting" the meeting. | Mr Brunstrom claimed the pictures had been shown in confidence and accused some sections of the media of "distorting" the meeting. |
| On Sunday, four days after displaying the pictures, the force issued a statement. | On Sunday, four days after displaying the pictures, the force issued a statement. |
| It read: "North Wales Police have written to the family of Mark Gibney to apologise for the distress caused by the publicity that followed the Arrive Alive closed seminar on Thursday 26th April 2007. | It read: "North Wales Police have written to the family of Mark Gibney to apologise for the distress caused by the publicity that followed the Arrive Alive closed seminar on Thursday 26th April 2007. |
| "North Wales Police accepts and regrets that it made a mistake in believing that description of pictures shown to this invited audience would remain confidential. | "North Wales Police accepts and regrets that it made a mistake in believing that description of pictures shown to this invited audience would remain confidential. |
| "We are very sorry for the distress that has evidently been caused." | "We are very sorry for the distress that has evidently been caused." |
| What he has done is totally outrageous and trying to blame journalists is nonsense William Gibney, father | What he has done is totally outrageous and trying to blame journalists is nonsense William Gibney, father |
| Mark Gibney was killed when his bike crashed on a bend on the B5105 between Cerrigydrudion and Ruthin in 2003. | Mark Gibney was killed when his bike crashed on a bend on the B5105 between Cerrigydrudion and Ruthin in 2003. |
| The motorcyclist was not named during Mr Brunstrom's presentation but details of his distinctive T-shirt, which bore an anti-police message, were given. | The motorcyclist was not named during Mr Brunstrom's presentation but details of his distinctive T-shirt, which bore an anti-police message, were given. |
| The T-shirt received widespread publicity during his inquest, and effectively identified him to journalists. | The T-shirt received widespread publicity during his inquest, and effectively identified him to journalists. |
| On Saturday, Mr Gibney's father William, 64, said he could "never forgive" Mr Brunstrom and called for him to "be sacked". | On Saturday, Mr Gibney's father William, 64, said he could "never forgive" Mr Brunstrom and called for him to "be sacked". |
| He said he had tried his best to keep details of his son's horrific death from much of the family - but now everybody knew following the publicity the pictures attracted. | He said he had tried his best to keep details of his son's horrific death from much of the family - but now everybody knew following the publicity the pictures attracted. |
| He added: "What he has done is totally outrageous and trying to blame journalists is nonsense. | He added: "What he has done is totally outrageous and trying to blame journalists is nonsense. |
| "He's publicity-mad and what he has done to this family is appalling, and it won't have saved a single life." | "He's publicity-mad and what he has done to this family is appalling, and it won't have saved a single life." |
| Harrowing | Harrowing |
| Mr Brunstrom has been criticised by MPs and his former deputy for using the images. | Mr Brunstrom has been criticised by MPs and his former deputy for using the images. |
| But, writing in his weblog, he said those attending the anti-speeding briefing had been warned in writing they would be "briefly exposed to harrowing images". | But, writing in his weblog, he said those attending the anti-speeding briefing had been warned in writing they would be "briefly exposed to harrowing images". |
| The invitations to the media had said the images "were not, are not and will not be released into the public domain - a point emphasised verbally during the meeting," he wrote. | The invitations to the media had said the images "were not, are not and will not be released into the public domain - a point emphasised verbally during the meeting," he wrote. |
| "They were included as a minor part of the presentation to counter the continuing tendency in some sections of our society to trivialise road death." | "They were included as a minor part of the presentation to counter the continuing tendency in some sections of our society to trivialise road death." |