Juanita Nielsen’s former partner warned the ABC of editorial failings in crime series
The former partner of journalist and activist Juanita Nielsen said he warned the ABC about editorial failings in their investigation into her 1975 disappearance and suspected murder.
The former partner of journalist and activist Juanita Nielsen warned the ABC about editorial failings in their investigation into her 1975 disappearance and suspected murder but the broadcaster ignored them, he claims.
David Farrell, 76, who was Nielsen's partner for seven years up until her disappearance, told The Australian he sent a producer working on the program a text message on August 20 this year, the month before the TV series, Juanita: A Family Mystery aired, to warn of the problems he had with retired lawyer John Innes’ claims he knew who killed her, where she was killed and how much was paid to kill her.
After listening to the eight-episode ABC podcast, Unravel True Crime: Juanita, Mr Farrell said he was worried the podcast team desperately wanted a “scoop, ratings and probably a notch on their CV belt”.
“I also texted my concern to the producer on 20 August, after the podcast aired, as follows: ‘I’m still worried about Innes appearing out of nowhere and saying that you approached him. In my mind there remains a credibility gap which needs to be covered with the rigorous forensics of a professional investigator’.
“The ABC and Wildbear Entertainment were both earnestly warned at a high level about Innes by well-informed people before the TV programs were put to air.”
Mr Innes claimed he was placed in Long Bay Gaol as an undercover investigator in an attempt to extract information from Eddie Trigg, an associate of Sydney crime figure Abe Saffron.
Trigg was one of three men charged in 1977 over a failed attempt to kidnap Nielsen four days before she disappeared.
The Nielsen series was commissioned by the ABC and produced by Wildbear Entertainment and the program fell under the entertainment and specialist division, headed up by Michael Carrington.
The ABC conceded last week there was a “serious editorial lapse” in airing Mr Innes’ claims and that they failed to go through a stringent fact-checking process.
In questions on notice asked by senators, answered by the ABC and made public last week, the media organisation conceded there was a “serious editorial lapse” in airing the problematic claims.
“The program makers also put Mr Innes’ claims to NSW Police, which chose not to comment nor repudiate those claims until after they were broadcast,” the ABC said in a written response.
“Access to physical court records and prison documents relating to Mr Innes’ claims was hampered, in part, by COVID-19 restrictions.”
Mr Farrell said: “I knew that it would come back and bite them.
“The problems stemmed from mixing a real murder with entertainment, without investigative journalistic oversight.
“There was resistance to in-depth consultation and openness with those who had followed and researched the story for nearly fifty years”.
Nielsen, whose father was heir to the Mark Foy’s retail fortune, had gained prominence for her newspaper’s opposition to developments in Kings Cross.
She was last seen alive on July 4, 1975, at the Carousel Club owned by Saffron.
The ABC also admitted it didn’t speak with several other key people before Mr Innes’ claims were aired on TV.
This included two principal police officers Mr Innes said he worked with in the 1980s.
“One of those officers was unavailable and the other declined to be interviewed,” the ABC said in its response.
The final two episodes of the eight-part podcast series and two TV episodes have been stripped from all ABC platforms while Innes’ claims are further reviewed.
The ABC said in its response: “While some information concerning Mr Innes that has since come to light was not available to the program makers, it is clear additional steps should have been taken to verify his claims before publications”.
At a Senate Estimates spillover hearing last month, ABC managing director David Anderson admitted staff working on the program should have “done more digging”.
Nielsen’s remains have never been found.
An ABC spokesman declined to comment on Sunday.
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