How can a sex offenders identity be permanently withheld?

[Mumfun]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-21199386

Its a few months old but Im still really hacked off by it. It isnt good for any sex offender to be named and Im sure most are very upset when it happens. But this guy has done all sorts of horrible things and noone can know he did it.

Makes me spitting mad.

Is there anything can be done about it?

[scaevola]

A party to the case could appeal, and keep taking it up to higher Courts.

The case is unprecedented, so it is likely there are exceptional circumstances. This BBC report doesn't say if it was explicitly ruled as not setting a precedent. Anyone in NI remember from reporting atthe time?

[Sunnywithshowers]

It's incredibly rare - AFAIK only a handful of people are protected in this way. With the ones I'm thinking of, the risk of them being killed by vigilantes is high, and the crimes are incredibly serious.

[WTFisABooyhooISBooyhoo]

well it looks like he is a high suicide risk if his identity were to be revealed so that's why in this case. not sure about any others.

[Pan]

There are a (very) few similar cases in the mainland courts that have led to 'permanent' bans re disclosure - the danger in releasing info re why the ban has been imposed is that it may be deduced from that who the offender is.

[Mumfun]

Knowing NI he is either at risk of paramilitary/extremist action or he is a very well connected member of the nice classes and the judge knows his family well.

I still think it is so wrong.

[Pan]

in what sense do you 'know' this, mumfun?

[WTFisABooyhooISBooyhoo]

do you know NI well then?

[edam]

Good grief, the effrontery of his lawyers, suing the court reporter for daring to ask the judge to lift the order! How dare they?! Never mind whether the order should be there or not, to sue someone who has a relevant professional interest merely for asking... incredible. The firm should have been upbraided for their appalling behaviour.

The Beeb story says the order was made due to a credible risk of suicide if he is named. Which would be sad for his family, possibly, but is a consequence of his crime - should have thought of that when he did what he did etc. etc.

The criminal justice system doesn't seem particularly bothered about the suicide risk of many people, tbh. Like 17yos denied their legal right to contact their parents on arrest (two killed themselves in London alone). Plenty of people who have not even been charged, those facing trial, prisoners and offenders sadly kill themselves without being offered this level of protection.

[Mumfun]

Been away. Edam -thanks for that - thats exactly how I feel.

And yes I do know NI well and have seen a few things happen there(similar to Wales, Jersey etc in small older fashioned societies where people all know each other)that happened because people knew each other and things were fixed.

I am not going to let this lie -will try to make a few waves (totally legal)

[boxershorts]

Not permanently but until he is CHARGED

[NiceTabard]

boxershorts can you expand on that I don't follow?

Surely the reason for the names & identities of criminals being in the public domain is to do with open justice and also to do with the genera public being able to know who has a record? I would have thought this even more important with convicted sex offenders. What about that new law where people in relationships / their families can ask the police if there are any issues with DV / sex offences etc? Is that law in NI as well - how will it work with this man?

[NiceTabard]

Oh first bit was to boxershorts second bit was general comment about the OP and link.

[Mumfun]

Boxershorts. He was charged and found guilty!

And NT dont know what the law in NI is but yes the general public should be able to know who this individual is -and they dont! The way the law was manipulated here was worse than an ass!

[GibberTheMonkey]

Could he be a 'connected member of the nice classes' and have legal aid?

Just from reading the article it seems very off, odd and wrong to me.