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The ABC is “off the rails” after releasing a statement denying accusations of witness coaching during its “ugly pursuit” of actor Craig McLachlan, according to Sky News host Chris Kenny.

A documentary aired by Channel 7 exposed “activist journalism” by ABC and Fairfax (now Nine newspapers) reporters, following a joint investigation by the two into claims of indecent assault against McLachlan – who has since been acquitted in a criminal trial.

Mr Kenny said the Channel 7 documentary revealed a “disturbing insight” into how journalists from ABC and Nine were “coaching the witnesses, putting words into their mouths”.

“And on Sunday, the ABC put out a statement, reacting to what Channel 7 had put into the public arena,” he said.

“It denies claims of witness coaching and says this is offensive to the alleged victims.”

The ABC says the unedited footage, aired by Channel 7 in the documentary, shows a woman was asked to repeat “in a more succinct way” statements she had already made on camera.

The national broadcaster says this is a “normal television industry practice” which ensures content is “presented in a clear way for viewers”.

According to Mr Kenny, this is “all too clear for viewers” and the ABC’s statement “exposes yet again just how out of control” the taxpayer funded public broadcaster is.

“The ABC reckons Channel 7 took its interviews out of context, there is an easy way to find out: release all the tapes, release all the raw footage,” he said.

“Taxpayers paid for it, we deserve access and transparency, let us be the judge.

“Of course that won’t happen, the ABC is off the rails.”