Before giving judgment, Mr Justice Geoghegan told the media that under no condition was there to be any attempt by any means to get hold of any of the evidence, oral or on affidavit, or any documents used either in the District or High Court proceedings in the C case.
The judge had directed that the hearing be held in private, except that he indicated he would give his judgment in public. This meant the press and other organs of the media were perfectly free to report on the judgment itself or comment.
Mr Justice Geoghegan said great care must be taken not to identify the parties involved. Where one was dealing with a minor, the proceedings were normally held in camera. If ever the wisdom of that rule were proved, it was in the present case, he said.
Some media coverage arising from leaks in the District Court had already caused great upset to the young girl, the judge said. He warned that any attempt to publish evidence other than what was included in the judgment could lead to the alleged rapist not getting a fair trial, if there was a criminal trial. For all those reasons, Mr Justice Geoghegan added, it was extremely important for the media not to go outside the judgment.