ITV’s coverage of the Morcambe Bay cockling trial has been awarded a Bafta.
The broadcaster’s regional news programme in the North-West, Granada Reports, beat the BBC, Channel 4, and ITV’s national evening news bulletin to pick up the award for best news coverage at last night’s ceremony.
Granada had followed the long-running manslaughter trial at Preston Crown Court after some 21 Chinese illegal immigrants were swept away to their death by tides while collecting cockles in Morecambe Bay, Lancashire, in 2004.
Four men and woman were accused of manslaughter or helping the immigrants break immigration law by offering them work.
Lin Liang, described in court as a “callous” gangmaster, was convicted of 21 counts of manslaughter and sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment.
His girlfriend and cousin were both found guilty of immigration offences.
The BBC had entered its coverage of the terrorism plot at Heathrow Airport for the award, while Channel 4 was nominated for its reporting from Iran.
ITV’s coverage of the Israel-Lebanon conflict was also shortlisted for the award.
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