ABC removes JUANITA: A FAMILY MYSTERY from ABC iview after concerns raised about accuracy

The ABC has made the decision to remove a popular true-crime documentary from its iview platform after serious doubt was cast on some of the claims made in the series.

The Australian reports the ABC made the decision to remove the two-part television series Juanita: A Family Mystery from its streaming platform in order to “address concerns about the accuracy” of some claims made in the program. An accompanying podcast has also been removed.

Juanita: A Family Mystery focussed on the 1975 disappearance of Kings Cross activist Juanita Nielsen.

The two-part series, which aired earlier this month, followed Juanita’s family members, Keiran McGee and Pip Rey, as they worked alongside the ABC’s Unravel True Crime podcast team to “uncover the truth” behind Juanita’s mysterious disappearance.

It’s understood the concerns relate to claims made in the series by retired lawyer John Innes who allegedly worked undercover inside Long Bay Gaol to investigate the murder.

A spokesperson for ABC confirmed the temporary removal of the series with a spokesperson telling TV Blackbox:

“The ABC has temporarily removed Juanita: A Family Mystery from ABC iview and episodes 7 and 8 of the accompanying podcast series from ABC listen, in light of new information that casts serious doubt on some of the claims made by interviewee John Innes.

“As noted in our published correction , we are reviewing that content in order to address concerns about the accuracy of Mr Innes’ claims.

“It is important to note that the program makers attempted to verify those claims, such as by speaking with and/or seeking interviews with current and former NSW Police officers, including those Mr Innes said he worked with in the early 1980s,”

“The program makers also sought comment from NSW Police, which chose not to repudiate Mr Innes’ claims until after they were broadcast.

“However, while some information concerning Mr Innes was not available to the program makers, we acknowledge that additional steps should have been taken to verify his claims.”