Man loses High Court bid to block publication of allegations
The judge dismissed the claim but kept temporary reporting restrictions in place while an appeal is possible. The man denies the allegations against him.
Key points
- A man who is described as a celebrity lost his bid for a permanent injunction at the High Court.
- Mr Justice Nicklin dismissed the claim, but kept a temporary order in place to allow an appeal.
- The man will remain anonymous while any appeal period runs, according to BBC News.
- The court did not decide whether the allegations are true.
- The man's lawyers argued that publication could put his life at risk.
A man described as a celebrity has lost his bid at the High Court, according to BBC News. He had asked for a lasting order that would stop two media groups naming him and making public accusations of sexual misconduct. The judge, Mr Justice Nicklin, dismissed the claim in a judgment on Tuesday. He also ruled that a temporary order should continue so the man can appeal.
The temporary order means the man cannot be named, and the allegations cannot be published, while the appeal period runs. The judge noted that no finding had been made on whether the accusations held up. He also made clear that rejecting the claim did not endorse any story the defendants might later decide to run.
The defendants and the allegations
The two defendants are ITN and Guardian News and Media. Both publishers contend that releasing these claims serves the wider community’s need to be informed. The man denies the allegations.
Counsel for the defendants, Gavin Millar KC, told the court that the publishers had gathered numerous allegations during a wide-ranging investigation. Reporters had spoken to more than 100 people, and the material indicated a pattern of behaviour, he said. Millar also said many of the women involved had suffered serious mental health harm, which they linked to the alleged conduct.
Millar argued that, although the state may have a duty to protect life, using that duty to block lawful journalism would mean stepping into the man’s own decisions. He presented this as the core issue in the case.
Concerns about the man’s health
The man’s lawyers told the court that his suicide risk was high. They said this danger stemmed from dread of being condemned in the press, not from any wrongdoing. Sara Mansoori KC, who represented him, told the court that publication would have a potentially fatal impact on him.
According to the court, the man attempted suicide after receiving letters from the two organisations asking for his response to the allegations. He later left hospital without permission and attempted suicide a second time. His lawyers said he had been hospitalised for months, had been detained involuntarily, and had been assessed by more than 10 doctors.
A medical report prepared for the court said inpatient treatment could significantly, but not completely, reduce the risk. It said treatment over perhaps several months had a realistic chance of lowering the risk. Mansoori also told the court that the man did not plan to return to public life.
Why the case matters
The case raises a difficult balance between press freedom and the protection of a person who says publication could lead to self-harm. The court has not ruled on the truth of the allegations, so they remain unproven. The appeal process will decide whether the temporary restrictions continue beyond the current period.
BBC News has pointed readers to its Action Line website, which lists groups able to provide help on the subjects covered in this report.
Frequently asked questions
Has the court ruled that the allegations are true?
No. The judge said no finding had been made on whether the allegations, or any of them, were true. Dismissing the injunction claim does not endorse any future publication.
Will the man be named while an appeal is possible?
According to BBC News, the man will remain anonymous and the temporary order will stay in place during the period allowed for any appeal.
Who are the two organisations involved?
The two news organisations named in the case are ITN and Guardian News and Media. They have said they believe publishing the allegations is in the public interest.
Sources
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