SIMON CHARLES DORANTE-DAY AGAINST NEW ZEALAND HERALD
Case Number: 2908
Council Meeting: JUNE 2020
Decision: No Grounds to Proceed
Publication: New Zealand Herald
Ruling Categories: Accuracy
Overview
CASE NO: 2908
RULING BY THE NEW ZEALAND MEDIA COUNCIL ON THE COMPLAINT OF SIMON CHARLES DORANTE-DAY AGAINST NEW ZEALAND HERALD
FINDING: INSUFFICIENT GROUNDS TO PROCEED
DATE: JUNE 2020
On February 2, 2020 the New Zealand Herald published an article Queensland man claims to be Prince Charles and Camilla’s son, launches legal action.
The article was substantially a reprint of an article published in The Daily Mail.
Simon Dorante-Day, the man in question, complained initially to the NZ Herald that the article contained inaccuracies and has exposed him to numerous derogatory and defamatory comments on theHerald’s Facebook page.
He received no reply from the Herald.
In May Mr Dorante-Day complained to the Media Council about the inaccuracies, the comments and theHerald’s lack of response.The Council asked Mr Dorante-Day to provide material to substantiate his complaint. He has been unable to do this.
The Media Council notes that bald statements that something published in an article is incorrect cannot be the basis for a valid complaint.Complaints of inaccuracy must be substantiated. Mr Dorante-Day does not deny claiming to be the son of Prince Charles, so the remarks cannot be called patently false and unsustainable.A quick google search reveals that Mr Dorante-Day is no stranger to publicity on this matter and frequently makes statements to the media about his supposed connection to Prince Charles.
Finding : There is insufficient information provided for this to be considered a valid complaint.