Media to test reporting curbs

The High Court yesterday set aside next Thursday to hear the challenge by a number of newspapers and RTE to reporting restrictions…

The High Court yesterday set aside next Thursday to hear the challenge by a number of newspapers and RTE to reporting restrictions imposed by a circuit court judge on a drugs trial in Cork.

Last Friday, Mr Justice Geoghegan gave leave to the Irish Times Ltd, Independent Newspapers, The Examiner and News Group Newspapers Ltd to seek a judicial review of the decision of Judge Anthony Murphy.

Yesterday, Mr Justice Kelly gave leave to RTE also to seek a judicial review of the circuit court judge's decision.

The newspapers and RTE are seeking to quash an order of the circuit court made on February 7th which, it is claimed, purported to restrict the right of the media to reporting contemporaneous proceedings against Mr Howard Charles Miller, Mr James Noel, Mr Roman Smollen and Ms Theresa Bernadette da Silva.