Sark Newspaper

The Sark Newspaper is a controversial small publication, distributed free to residents of the island of Sark, and published online.^[1] It is edited by Kevin Delaney, who worked for the Barclay brothers, David Rowat Barclay and Frederick Hugh Barclay, publishing magnates.

According to BBC News the newspaper has "close ties to Sark Estate Management", owned by the Barclay brothers.^[2] Kevin Delaney had been a manager for Sark Estate Management until March 2015.^[3][4]

In January 2014 The Independent described the newspaper contributing to a poisonous climate.^[5] The BBC reported that tensions had risen to such a pitch that United Kingdom Ministry of Justice officials were monitoring the situation.^[6]

In November 2014 BBC News reported that police in nearby Guernsey had received complaints about the newspaper from about fifty Sark residents—ten percent of the Island's population.^[7] The BBC quoted Roseanne Byrnes, a member of the Chief Pleas, the island's legislature, who said the newspaper was "blighting my life and the lives of my family."

According to newspapers in Ireland, Denis Sullivan, formerly a member of Ireland's police service, the Garda Síochána, sued Delaney for defamation, in the Irish justice system.^[8][9]

The Middle East Eye characterized the newspaper as "almost exclusively filled with content that attacks the Sark parliament".^[10] However, in October and November 2014, the newspaper published criticisms of the government of Qatar at the same time newspapers officially run by the Barclay brothers were also attacking Qatar, on the same issues. The Middle East Eye pointed out that the Barclay brothers were in the midst of a financial dispute with Qatar.

References

1. Steven Morris (20 November 2014). "Police called in over 'media harassment' on Sark". The Guardian (UK). Retrieved 12 December 2016.
2. "Seigneur 'disappointed' at criticism of Sark government". BBC News. 15 July 2016. His son has said he is fully supportive of Sark's government, Chief Pleas.
3. "Exclusive: Kevin Delaney quits his Sark property job". ITV News. 11 March 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2016. Kevin Delaney ran Sark Estate Management, the company which looks after the billionaire Barclay brothers' property portfolio in the island.
4. "Kevin Delaney leaves Barclay Brothers' Sark firm". BBC News. 11 March 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2016. It is understood Mr Delaney will remain as editor of the Sark Newspaper, which has been accused of harassing islanders.
5. Jonathan Brown (15 January 2014). "A 'poisonous' paradise: MPs warn of tensions on isle of Sark". The Independent (UK). Retrieved 13 December 2016. Sark Newsletter editor Kevin Delaney, managing director of the Barclays' businesses on Sark – who has lived there since 2007 – told The Independent that it was time for the UK government to intervene.
6. "Tension on Sark monitored by UK government". Guernsey: BBC News. 15 January 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2016. The MPs said conseillers - the island's MPs - complained that they are "subjected to threats of legal action against them as individuals and to abusive and intimidating attacks in the Sark Newsletter", edited by the Barclay brothers' manager on the island.
7. "Sark islanders claim harassment from newspaper". Guernsey: BBC News. 21 November 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2016. A Guernsey Police spokesman said: "I can confirm we have received about 50 complaints from Sark residents... these are being reviewed."
8. "Ex-garda allowed to take newspaper defamation case". Irish Times. 5 January 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016. Frank Callinan SC, counsel for Mr O'Sullivan, told the court his client intended suing a Kevin Delaney, editor of the Sark Newspaper and Sark Newsletter for remarks made about him both online and in print.
9. Ray Managh (5 January 2016). "Former garda to sue newspaper for alleged defamation". Irish Independent. Retrieved 14 December 2016. He said a law firm in Guernsey disputed the purported jurisdiction of the Irish courts but had agreed, without prejudice to the matter of jurisdiction, to accept service of the proceedings by fax and e-mail.
10. Rori Donaghy (15 June 2015). "Was a London property dispute behind a Telegraph campaign against Qatar?". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 13 December 2016. At the same time as the anti-Qatar articles were published by the Sark Newsletter, a campaign was run by the Telegraph newspapers that targeted the Gulf state's alleged involvement in supporting terrorist groups across the Middle East.