A High Court judge in Northern Ireland has declared the Justice (Sexual Offences and Trafficking Victims) Act, which granted automatic anonymity to suspects of sexual offences, invalid. The court ruled that the law is incompatible with press rights to freedom of expression. This decision marks a significant victory for press freedom and public interest journalism, as it allows the media to name suspected sex offenders, including calling Jimmy Savile a paedophile.
In a big legal victory for public interest journalism, a High Court judge has ruled that a controversial new law in Northern Ireland that grants automatic anonymity to people suspected of sexual offences is incompatible with press rights to free speech. https://t.co/WmWnC8qdIW
π¬π§ Stopped: Law That Shielded Sex Offence Suspects β«Legislation ruled incompatible with freedom of press ... who can call Savile a paedophile again β«@SJAMcBride #frontpagestoday #UK @BelTel π¬π§ https://t.co/msLkOT8ecN
Court revokes Northern Ireland law that banned naming of suspected sex offenders https://t.co/e3iNr0nsWh
Northern Ireland law that would have prohibited Savile allegations revoked https://t.co/tD5Jk1ZjVJ
π¨BIG victory for press freedom today β a new law in Northern Ireland granting anonymity to sex offence suspects is incompatible with press rights to #freedomofexpression, a High Court judge has ruled. The challenge to the Justice (Sexual Offences and Trafficking Victims) Actβ¦ https://t.co/DxAkmqWec8
Judge declares NI sexual offences law invalid https://t.co/EW9GSAUxoU