The BBC sought leave to appeal against an order following the conviction by a jury of the defendant on drugs charges and his pleas of guilty on the counts of various types of fraudulent activity. The judge’s order, made under section 4(2) of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 prohibited the reporting of any of the proceedings or sentences passed in respect of the three bills –
‘until the time has expired within which Notice of Appeal to the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland in Bill of Indictment 169/99 may be given or, in the event of such notice being given, until the Appeal in Bill of Indictment 169/99 has been heard and determined or, in the event of a retrial being granted by the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland, such retrial has been heard and determined.’
The BBC applied for leave to appeal against the order, pursuant to the provisions of section 159 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988. Leave was refused by the single judge, and the BBC renewed its application to this court.
Citations:
[2001] NICA 19
Links:
Jurisdiction:
Northern Ireland
Criminal Practice, Media
Updated: 05 December 2022; Ref: scu.201965