Letters: Childish response to complaint

I found your attempt at humour in your response (‘Panga attack’ was irresponsible reporting, The Courier, January 13) quite childish, which may account for the immature manner in which you reported on this very serious incident.
As I clearly stated in my letter “I am not suggesting that incidents like this should not be reported but there is surely a responsible manner in which this should be done” and I certainly don’t think it is something that should not be taken seriously.
It was a very serious, nasty attack and obviously very traumatic and stressful for the family and should have been reported on accordingly.
An example of irresponsible reporting would be:
Your letter in The Courier of January 6 states: “Rattray said her daughter’s neighbours told her they had been robbed the night before”, suggesting another incident in a Loxley Estate home. A quick visit to the estate would reveal that there is in fact only one home completed and occupied in this estate, with one other under construction.
This obviously just occupied home is all alone in the centre of this small estate and very visible from all boundaries. A one minute look at the fence would have revealed to you that the fence could not possibly be active due to the vegetation growth at the base of the fence (since been cleared). A call to the security company would possibly have revealed that they were still treating the site as a construction site and not yet conducting patrols. Hardly an example of a normal estate situation. (The developers have almost sold out and have reached a point where in fact the Home Owners Association would be taking control.)
Was any of this checked, and I could go on but unfortunately the damage has been done.
Once again, please clearly note, the intention of my letter was to suggest that you investigate your stories correctly and report accurately and responsibly and it was not to condone the incident itself which was serious and every attempt must be made to apprehend and punish these criminals.
Still I suppose sensational headlines are what moves your paper and you label your role as keeping the community informed.
ADAM WATSON
Sheffield
My response was perfectly serious. No humour involved. If you choose to think that childish, so be it. Though I wonder from your response if the couple who thought they had bought in a secure estate knew there was no security – Editor.