Councillor claims Post story is untrue - then backtracks

Nov 27 2009 by Lisa Boyle, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

A BLUNDERING councillor has apologised after accusing the Ayrshire Post of making up stories.

Ian Douglas claimed that an article about council chiefs potentially stumping up £30,000 to stop an official quitting was “complete journalistic fantasy”.

He made the allegation following a complaint from a council tax payer about the plan to cough up the cash for an official earning more than £90,000 a year.

But when he was asked to explain his claim, Cllr Douglas changed his tune and conceded that the story is 100 per cent true.

The Post’s front page story of November 13 revealed that South Ayrshire bosses were considering spending the cash to help the official with his living costs.

The senior member of the management team has failed to sell his house in the north of Scotland after moving to South Ayrshire council last year.

The proposal was made by chief executive David Anderson. But it was shelved before it went to councillors for approval. However, on receiving a complaint from an outraged Girvan lady, Councillor Douglas failed to explain the background to the story.

He simply dismissed it saying: “Don’t believe all you read in the press, particularly Trinity Mirror (the Ayrshire Post’s parent company) titles.

“The details in the article are complete journalistic fantasy and have caused great embarrassment to the person concerned.”

But this week, Cllr Douglas admitted that he didn’t know the facts when he contacted the lady. The email was also circulated to several of his fellow councillors as well as other Ayrshire politicians.

Councillor Douglas said: “I need to apologise for saying the story was complete fantasy, I have since discovered the story has substance.

“When I responded to the email I wasn’t in possession of the full facts. However, I have looked into it and I hold my hands up – I was wrong.”