Northern Ireland

Irish News and Belfast Telegraph in challenge to new law on naming sex offence suspects

The Irish News and the Belfast Telegraph have launched a High Court challenge against a law that prevents sex offenders in Northern Ireland from being named for 25 years after their death. (Liam McBurney/PA)
By Allan Preston

THE Irish News has joined with the Belfast Telegraph in a challenge to a new law in Northern Ireland that grants suspected sex offenders anonymity for 25 years after their deaths.

It is argued the legislation could have prevented publication of allegations against Jimmy Savile because he was not charged or convicted during his lifetime.

The extent of alleged crimes by the disgraced entertainer only emerged after his death in 2012.

Breaches of the law potentially constitute a criminal offence punishable by up to six months in prison.

Wide-ranging new legislation on sexual offences, introduced following a review by retired judge Sir John Gillen, provides victims with anonymity for 25 years after their death.

However, the law extends the same protection to alleged offenders if they have been investigated by police but not charged.

Assembly members are expected to come under pressure to amend the legislation if the devolved structures at Stormont are restored, with some parties having already expressed support.

An application for leave to apply for judicial review was made in the High Court this week by the The Irish News and Mediahuis, which publishes the Belfast Telegraph, Sunday Life, Sunday World, Irish Independent and Sunday Independent.

The proposed respondent is Stormont’s Department of Justice, which introduced the Justice (Sexual Offences and Trafficking Victims) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022.

We are deeply concerned about the anonymity clause in the new legislation and we believe it is very much in the public interest that it should be reviewed

—  Irish News editor Noel Doran

The action is seeking to quash specific sections of the legislation on the basis they are incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.

Irish News editor Noel Doran said: “We are deeply concerned about the anonymity clause in the new legislation and we believe it is very much in the public interest that it should be reviewed.”