‘Not acceptable’: Paul Barry owes an apology for ‘quite pathetic’ act

Sky News Digital Editor Jack Houghton says Paul Barry owes an apology after the ABC host “played a role” in sharing misinformation relating to Geoff Bainbridge and extortion attempt claims.

Mr Houghton said Paul Barry had tweeted out a “fake news article” that journalist Chip Le Grand published on the matter.

“He spread the misinformation out there into the ecosystem of social media," Mr Houghton said.

It comes after former Grill’d burger chain investor Geoff Bainbridge recently quit his position as CEO of Lark Distilling after a video emerged appearing to show him smoking a methamphetamine pipe while wearing skimpy underwear.

Sky News host, and Investigations Editor at The Australian, Sharri Markson, broke the story.

Mr Houghton said Mr Le Grand published a “false" story relating to the matter and allegations made by Mr Bainbridge.

“Paul Barry, you played a role in sharing that misinformation and then you did a big editorial about how irresponsible the journalists were - knowing that you shared it out,” Mr Houghton said.

“And you didn’t tell your audience – I find that quite pathetic and I don’t think that that’s acceptable and I think that you owe your viewers and Sharri Markson an apology.”