A ‘well-known’ celebrity has brought legal action against ITN and The Guardian to prevent them from publishing serious allegations against him. The man, who has been granted anonymity, is seeking a permanent injunction at London’s High Court to prevent publication, claiming it could lead to him attempting suicide.
Investigation and allegations
Journalists at both ITN and The Guardian have been investigating the man’s conduct over a period of years, including an allegation that he committed a sexual offence. The allegations are said to have taken place in both professional and personal contexts.
According to the BBC, the man denies the allegations against him, and his legal team has submitted medical evidence saying that if these matters were made public, it would ‘almost certainly’ lead to him taking his own life.
Legal arguments and health concerns
The man’s legal team have described the claimant as ‘a well-known individual who suffers from very serious mental health problems’. Furthermore, they claim that the prospect of publication has led the man to attempt suicide twice already and that he remains seriously ill.
According to The Guardian, the man’s lawyers argue that reporting on the allegations would breach the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), specifically articles two and three, which relate to the right to life and prohibition of degrading treatment or punishment.
Response and next steps
Lawyers representing ITN and The Guardian say it would be wrong for the court to restrain publication, as mitigations could be put in place to protect the man. A trial is due to take place later this month, which will make a decision about the injunction and whether the allegations can be published.
