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2 July 2014: The Daily Mail's Stephen Wright co-authors an article strongly implying that Leon Brittan suppressed evidence of a "Westminster paedophile ring".
This was the atmosphere in which Carl Beech went to police and found media interest later the same year 1/6
This was the atmosphere in which Carl Beech went to police and found media interest later the same year 1/6
14 July 2014: The Daily Mail's @guyadams follows up by uncritically reporting as fact an implausible story about MPs by Don Hale, who claims to have seen documentary evidence that was seized. Hale's account was later treated sceptically by the IICSA https://barthsnotes.com/2020/02/26/iicsa-rejects-westminster-paedophile-network-claims/ 2/6
Three weeks after Carl Beech's allegations were published in the Sunday People, the Daily Mail's @guyadams wrote about "the growing stench of a cover-up by the Establishment". Adams directly referenced Beech, at that time known only as "Nick" https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2844765/Paedophile-orgies-luxury-flats-claims-three-boys-murdered-VIPs-Special-report-growing-stench-cover-Establishment.html 3/6
March 2015: The Daily Mail reports on the police raid on Harvey Proctor's home, which had been triggered by Carl Beech. The paper adds that Proctor "had been named on a list of politicians passed to police by campaigning Labour MP John Mann." 4/6 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2980702/I-not-rent-boy-ring-Cabinet-ministers-says-ex-Tory-MP-police-investigating-VIP-abuse-search-home.html
This MP, now @LordJohnMann, went on to grandstand over the same "Dickens dossiers" that the Daily Mail had promoted in July.
But the documents were overhyped, and there is zero evidence to believe that Leon Brittan had mishandled them https://barthsnotes.com/2015/11/04/john-mann-dickens-dossiers-the-monday-club-and-vip-abuse-allegations/ 5/6
But the documents were overhyped, and there is zero evidence to believe that Leon Brittan had mishandled them https://barthsnotes.com/2015/11/04/john-mann-dickens-dossiers-the-monday-club-and-vip-abuse-allegations/ 5/6
The Daily Mail turned when Proctor revealed the full extent of Carl Beech's claims, and it has led the way in exposing the farce of "Operation Midland".
But while now attacking the BBC, the Mail hasn't reflected on how its own earlier reporting helped make Beech "credible" 6/6
But while now attacking the BBC, the Mail hasn't reflected on how its own earlier reporting helped make Beech "credible" 6/6
