August 08, 2011
The BBC has been forced to apologise after an edition of Panorama accused an Italian medical company of selling blood products infected with deadly diseases. The broadcaster was challenged by Father and son Guelfo and Paolo Marcucci, who own and control the Marcucci Group of companies. In a 2006 documentary called The Price of Blood, the BBC made damaging and untrue allegations, their solicitor-advocate, Graham Atkins, told Mr Justice Eady at the High Court. Although the documentary correctly reported on a criminal prosecution brought in Italy against the claimants relating to the production of some of their blood products in the mid-1990s, the proceedings were dismissed at the preliminary stage and they were acquitted of the charges against them. Nevertheless, the BBC suggested that the claimants were guilty of having sold blood products infected with diseases such as HIV or Hepatitis C. The broadcaster has since been forced to apologise and the case serves as a reminder to anyone whose name is dragged through the mud that justice can be sought. If you’ve fallen victim to libellous or slanderous comment, contact our solicitors today and we’ll make sure you get the compensation you deserve.