An injunction which protects the identity of a footballer who reportedly had an affair with reality TV star Imogen Thomas has been upheld. Mr Justice Eady granted an extension to the existing gagging order in a private hearing at the High Court yesterday.
The Premier League player, who is married with children, had been seeing Thomas for six months , according to a report in The Sun last week.
Last weekend, the Big Brother 7 contestant told the media that she felt "hurt and betrayed" by her former lover. While the injunction prevents the press in England and Wales from naming the applicants, publications anywhere else in the world can, leading some media outlets to claim "the law is an ass.
The man is also said to have attempted to have used online sleuths to track down tweets naming him and his spouse. According to reports, those identified as naming the couple in relation to the injunction have been sent a threatening email by Twitter. Thousands of Twitter users are said to have received the warning, even in countries not covered by the gagging order. Just a week ago a world-famous singer who allegedly sexually harassed his hairdresser was reportedly named in the US — though once again the British press was gagged from naming him.
The star, known only as RA in court documents, obtained a gagging order forbidding the publication of his identity. British newspapers The Sun and The Daily Mail attempted to have the injunction lifted today, but had their requests refused, according to The Independent. However, shortly after the verdict, a British MP used Gigg's name in parliament. These "super injunctions" have been a huge source of controversy in the UK. Here's what you need to know:.
While it is used broadly to refer to a range of gagging orders, a super injunction specifically refers to a UK court order that prevents the press reporting not only on details of a court case, but also prevents them from mentioning the fact that the injunction has been taken out.
Other injunctions may just prevent certain details of a case being known, though they are often referred to as super injunctions.
The gagging orders are typically requested by a company or individual preemptively and can be set up in a few hours with a meeting between lawyers and judge. While we can't be sure, reports indicate there may be as many as 30 super injunctions. Some super injunctions have been been lifted and the details became public knowledge.
The issue was first brought to light by The Guardian when they reported on details of toxic dumping in Africa by Trafigura. This was made possible by talk of the dumping in the British Parliament, which is not covered by injunction laws. Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger coined the term "super injunction". The average Brit likely became aware of the injunctions when it was revealed that John Terry, then captain of England's soccer team, had received an injunction after he was found to be cheating on his wife with a teammate's girlfriend.
Most of the recent injunctions in the British press have not been technically "super". For example, it can be reported that Imogan Thomas had a six month affair with a Premiership football player, but his name, or even the club he plays for, cannot be named.
Super injunctions have evolved out of a series of court rulings, going back to the Human Rights Act. Article 8 of the act reads :.
0コメント