Updated

Updated · bbc.co.uk · Nov 3

High Court Rejects Celebrity's Injunction Bid Against 2 News Outlets, Keeps Anonymity During Appeal

Updated

Updated · bbc.co.uk · Nov 3

High Court Rejects Celebrity's Injunction Bid Against 2 News Outlets, Keeps Anonymity During Appeal

Q: With a temporary order keeping his identity hidden, how long can this high-profile figure dodge the fallout of a massive media investigation?

For now, only briefly. The judge has refused the celebrity’s request for a permanent injunction, so his anonymity survives only under a temporary order while he decides whether to appeal and, if he does, until that appeal process is dealt with. That means there is no fixed long-term shield in place. The order remains during the period allowed for filing an appeal, and could continue a little longer if an appeal is lodged and the court extends protection pending the next hearing. But the legal direction of travel has changed: Mr Justice Nicklin has already ruled against permanent secrecy. The media outlets still cannot lawfully name him or publish the allegations yet. Nicklin stressed that his ruling did not determine whether the allegations are true and did not amount to approval of publication. It only means the claimant failed, at this stage, to justify a lasting ban. In practical terms, the delay could be days or weeks, potentially longer if an appeal is filed and heard urgently, but not indefinitely on the present ruling. Any further anonymity would depend on appeal judges being persuaded to keep restrictions in place because of the claimed suicide risk and related human-rights arguments. So the high-profile figure can postpone the fallout for the moment, but unless an appeal court intervenes, the temporary cover is likely to expire rather than become a permanent refuge.

3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Nov 3

Mr Justice Nicklin dismissed the celebrity's bid for a permanent injunction blocking ITN and the Guardian from naming him and publishing sexual misconduct allegations.
A temporary injunction will still remain in force during the appeal window, leaving the man anonymous and reporting restrictions in place for now.
The judge said the court did not decide whether any allegation was true, and the ruling did not amount to approval of whatever the outlets may ultimately publish.
The celebrity argued publication could be fatal, citing 2 suicide attempts, months of hospitalization and assessments by more than 10 doctors after the outlets sought his response.
ITN and Guardian lawyers said a public-interest investigation involving more than 100 interviews found allegations suggesting a pattern of abusing celebrity status with girls and young women.