Injunction securing parties' anonymity puts British law into 'farce' in controversial 'celebrity threesome' case

The controversial injunction involving a "celebrity threesome" has piqued the interest of many as a Scottish newspaper published the full details of the personalities, sidestepping the force and effect of the gagging order imposed by British courts.

In a report by The Telegraph, the Court of Appeals granted an injunction that bans news reporters in England and Wales from publishing the names of the celebrity couple and other material pertaining to the case.

The Court of Appeals granted the injunction to protect the celebrity figures' right to "private and family life." The petitioner, who can only be identified as PJS, is facing the charge of adultery for having an extra-marital affair. More specifically, PJS was reportedly involved in a threesome with another couple.

Judges ruled that the parties' right to privacy far outweighs tabloids' right to publish the story under the laws on freedom of expression. Lord Justice Rupert Jackson stated that publishing the case would deal a devastating blow to the claimant, thus the need for protecting is privacy is stronger.

Under the draconian law, the court order is only binding to publications in England and Wales. Thus, newspapers in Scotland and the United States have released a full report on the details of the case and the identities of the parties.

The fact that such information is freely published in Scotland and America and made available in other parts of the globe while those in England and Wales are kept in the dark about the proceedings is putting the British legal system into farce.

House of Commons' justice select committee member Philipp Davies called out judges for making decisions that are "completely out of touch with what is right."

"I don't think celebrities who use the media to secure positive media coverage when it suits them should be able to use the law of the land to prevent coverage they do not like," Davies stated, as quoted by the New Zealand Herald.

Former Liberal Democrat John Hemming has urged the Parliament to reexamine the law.

"It undermines public debate in England and Wales," Hemming said, according to Huffington Post UK.

Hemming emphasized that although the issue of the injunction is trivial, the effect of the injunction creates vital matters that directly affect freedom of speech. He added that in light of the Panama Papers scandal, the courts should lean towards the need for transparency in matters of public interest.

Tags

United Kingdom, Draconian law, gag order, UK Court of Appeals, Scotland, United States, celebrity threesome, House of Commons, England, Wales

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