View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. News
April 20, 2011

Court secrecy fears raised after judge grants mass gagging order

By andrew

More fears over court room secrecy were raised yesterday when it emerged a judge has banned journalists from approaching 65 people with a new gaging order.

The case relates to a mother who wants to withdraw life support from her daughter who suffers from brain damage.

As highlighted in The Telegraph yesterday, the judge made an injunction banning approaches to every witness in the case, as well as a ban on approaching several addresses of the main parties.

Reporters were warned they risk being fined or even jailed if they broke the order.

The order was made in the Court of Protection. According to The Telegraph report:

Legal experts said they had never seen the press restricted in such a way, in powers usually used to protect vulnerable women from ex-partners or keep animal rights protesters away from scientists.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Topics in this article :

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network