.
"The BBC's Nicholas Witchell said it appeared Piers Morgan remained unrepentant right to the end."
5/14/2004, "Editor sacked over 'hoax' photos," BBC
"Daily Mirror editor Piers Morgan has been sacked after
the newspaper conceded photos of British soldiers abusing an Iraqi were
fake.
In a statement the Mirror said it had fallen victim to a "calculated and
malicious hoax" and that it would be "inappropriate" for Morgan to
continue.
The Queen's Lancashire Regiment (QLR) said the Mirror had endangered British troops by running the pictures.
Roger Goodman, of the QLR, said the regiment now felt "vindicated".
Mr Goodman added: "It is just a great pity it has taken so long... and that so much damage has been done in the meantime."
At a news conference in Preston on Friday afternoon, the regiment
demonstrated to reporters aspects of uniform and equipment which it said
proved the photographs were fake.
The regiment's Brigadier Geoff Sheldon said the vehicle featured in the
photographs had been located in a Territorial Army base in Lancashire
and had never been in Iraq.
He said the QLR's reputation had been damaged by the Mirror and asked
the newspaper to apologise because the evidence they were staged was
"overwhelming"....
Deputy leader and foreign affairs spokesman, Michael Ancram, said:
''Looking at the facts objectively, this is the right thing for Piers
Morgan to have done.
"The photos that were published in the Daily Mirror have done great
damage to the reputation of our troops, who are serving under some of
the most difficult conditions in Iraq.''
'Recruiting poster for al-Qaeda'
The photos published in the Mirror on 1 May appeared to show British troops torturing an Iraqi detainee.
In one picture a soldier is seen urinating on a hooded man while in
another the hooded man is being hit with a rifle in the groin.
Colonel Black, a former regiment commander of the QLR, said the pictures
put lives in danger and acted as a "recruiting poster" for al-Qaeda.
However one of the Mirror's informants - Soldier C - said there had been abuse in Iraq.
The Territorial Army solider has been questioned by Royal Military Police after talking about his claims to the Daily Mirror.
On ITV's Tonight With Trevor McDonald he said: "It did go on, it wasn't all the army, it wasn't systematic but it did happen."
Downing Street refused to comment on the issue, saying it was a matter for the Mirror board.
The BBC's Nicholas Witchell said it appeared Piers Morgan remained unrepentant right to the end
"According to one report Mr Morgan refused the demand to apologise, was
sacked and immediately escorted from the building," he said.
Morgan will be replaced on a temporary basis by his deputy, Des Kelly.
The newspaper released a statement saying: "The Daily Mirror published
in good faith photographs which it absolutely believed were genuine
images of British soldiers abusing an Iraqi prisoner.
"However there is now sufficient evidence to suggest that these pictures
are fakes and that the Daily Mirror has been the subject of a
calculated and malicious hoax.
"The Daily Mirror therefore apologises unreservedly for publishing the pictures
and deeply regrets the reputational damage done to the QLR and the Army in
Iraq.
"The paper will continue to cooperate fully with the investigation.
"The board of Trinity Mirror has decided that it would be inappropriate
for Piers Morgan to continue in his role as editor of the Daily Mirror
and he will therefore be stepping down with immediate effect."
The Sun newspaper had offered a £50,000 reward for
"information about the fake Mirror photos" but withdrew the offer
following the sacking of Morgan." via Debbie Schlussel
-------------------------------------------------------------
6/5/2007, "Who is Piers Morgan & Why is He on American TV? (No Thanks, Simon Cowell)," Debbie Schlussel
and
12/19/12, "Even NYTimes Shocked by Blithering Wacko Piers Morgan, Clobbered by Gun Advocate Larry Pratt – MUST WATCH VIDEO," Debbie Schlussel
..
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