Daily Telegraph chief warns that national newspapers may no longer be sent to NI after Sammy Wilson's libel bill veto http://t.co/9fJZTQnbc9
— Sam McBride (@SJAMcBride) June 29, 2013
Read more here.
Daily Telegraph chief warns that national newspapers may no longer be sent to NI after Sammy Wilson's libel bill veto http://t.co/9fJZTQnbc9
— Sam McBride (@SJAMcBride) June 29, 2013
Daily Telegraph hints at leaving NI over DUP libel reform block. http://t.co/2O2j0DM126Newton Emerson in the tweet above drew my attention to the report that the Daily Telegraph has hinted that it may leave Northern Ireland because of the old libel law regime. Newton Emerson also made an interesting and very Emersonian remark on Twitter: on this occasion, on the DUP's readiness to pursue publishers and social media users for libel damages:
— Newton Emerson (@NewtonEmerson) June 28, 2013
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'UUP leader to introduce fresh libel legislation': headline from Irish News (£), June 27 2013. |
Another lawyer, Brian Garrett, said he did not favour rubber-stamping all Westminster legislation, but there were areas where it should apply and defamation was one of those.
Sinn Fein's Daithi McKay said he was open to the question of whether or not there should be a presumption for trial by jury, and to the possibility of a no-win, no-fee arrangement in defamation cases.A final note from myself that recently came to me: the conditioning of journalism by power is a real and ongoing problem. It’s something Orwell absolutely understood in his 1946 essay, Politics and the English Language. So we need to be very wary.
The CPS have published final guidelines on prosecutions and social media. Please read them carefully: http://t.co/hfCbb2P0Lx
— Jack of Kent (@JackofKent) June 20, 2013
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Barra McGrory QC, Director of the PPS for Northern Ireland |
"Northern Ireland guidelines are currently under development and it is anticipated that these will be published by the end of the summer."When published, the interim guidance document will be accompanied by a period of public consultation. This will then lead on to either, full guidance or new legislation. It is highly unlikely that new law would be produced as there is enough on the statute book to prosecute mis-users as it currently stands.
"It should not have been a flat refusal. The NI assembly should at the very least reconsider halting the extension of libel reform to NI without having a proper, open and public consultation on the issue. There must be an open debate ominous NI about brining it back into line with the rest of the UK.
The press are the eyes and the ears of society and watch as a public watchdog. Chilling press freedom of speech damages the public community at large.
"Unfortunately, the newspaper had failed to show similar concern about the fact that Northern Ireland citizens have for many years been treated differently from their counterparts in the UK in terms of access to the libel Courts. Unlike the position in England, lawyers in Northern Ireland have in the past not been allowed to act on a "no win no fee basis", nor have After the Event (ATE) insurance premiums been recoverable, thereby making it even more difficult for the ordinary man on the street to obtain access to justice.
TUV Leader Jim Allister has established that in the past year a further 2 super injunctions have been issued by the High Court in Belfast.
— Stephen Walker (@StepWalkTV) June 13, 2013
"The growth of ‘super injunctions’ is a product of the courts being persuaded to prioritise privacy rights over freedom of expression and press rights within the Human Rights Act. I am far from convinced that this balance is weighted in the right direction, particularly where it is a facility which in practical terms is only likely to be available to those who can afford it.
Since by their very nature such orders do not sit comfortably with the transparency expectations of modern society, it is, I believe, in the public interest that information about the number and lifting of super injunctions should be known."More information from the BBC of what a super injunction is here and below:
1. Has sectarianism grown new legs through the misuse and abuse of social media? Are there effectively new online interface areas?
2. What is the scale of the challenge posed by social media to the PSNI?
3. My figures obtained under FOI, relating to the number or social media incidents reported to the police, have shown exponential growth since 2010 - the number of prosecutions is also quote high. Therefore I ask, what guidelines are police using before:
i. Responding to reports of misuse and abuse
ii. Making an arrest following said report of misuse and abuse
4. What standard are the prosecution services in Northern Ireland using before deciding to prosecute and individual?
5. What has changed since the February 5 2013 plenary session on social media regulation?
6. Since February 5 2013 have you spoken with either Chris Grayling or Maria Miller?
7. Of the options before you do you lean towards either:
i. Tightening controls such as bringing in censorship measures?
ii. Bringing in new criminal controls as has been suggested by Pat Rabitte for ROI?
iii. Self-regulation and Educating people, especially young people in schools (as per here)?
8. Do you intend to bring forward to Northern Ireland specific guidance for arrests and prosecutions relating to social media - or do you intend to use guidance produced by Keir Starmer (now stepping down from CPS)?I received a response from the Office of the Justice Minister on June 12 2013. None of my questions were actually answered. And I won't have anyone suggest that I didn't ask them as presented above; so below is a screen grab of the original email I sent with relevant addresses redacted.
TWITTER, READ THIS JUDGMENT! 2 men who shared Jamie Bulger killer pics get 9 month sentences suspended for 15 months bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/…
— Adam Wagner (@AdamWagner1) June 4, 2013
… Court says in future serious social media injunction breaches, unlikely jail sentences will be suspended. TAKE NOTE bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/…
— Adam Wagner (@AdamWagner1) June 4, 2013
High Court judgment in HM Attorney General v Harkins & Liddle (breach of Venables/Thompson injunction) now available bit.ly/13CrlZj
— Judicial Office (@JudiciaryUK) June 4, 2013