A CIRCUIT Court judge in Cork has imposed a ban on day to day media coverage of a criminal trial which is expected to last for more than a fortnight.
The National Union of Journalists has protested at the decision, and three national newspapers, The Irish Times, the Irish Independent and the Examiner, are expected to make an appearance before the judge this morning to argue in favour of the media being allowed to report daily on the ease.
The Irish secretary of the National Union of Journalists, Mr Eoin Ronayne, said he was concerned and shocked by the decision. As far as he knew the case did not fit any of the conditions for a reporting ban. Irish journalists had a fine tradition of accurate court reporting. The journalist's role was to represent the public and to ensure that justice took place in public he said
The ease, on the Cork Circuit involves the seizure of a vessel containing cocaine in Cork harbour on September 29th last.
It emerged yesterday that Judge Murphy was imposing a total ban on the day to day coverage of the trial, and had warned that any media organisation disobeying his order would be in contempt of court. Not one word was to appear until the trial was over.
Judge Murphy said there was nothing stopping the public attending the trial, which is expected to last two weeks or longer.
A media law expert and UCG lecturer, Ms Marie McGonagle said she could not see the legal justification for such a total ban.
The Constitution contained the principle of open justice. If it is believed that media reporting might hinder a fair trial, Ms McGonagle added, a judge must justify that and first try to find lesser ways than a reporting ban of ensuring a fair trial. A blanket ban on media reporting was a major incursion into media freedom and open justice and would need to be fully justified.
Last week the editor of the London Evening Standard, Mr Max Hastings, had to apologise to the Woolwich Crown Court where there was a mistrial following a description of three of the accused as "terrorists".
Six people were accused of shooting their way out of Whitemoor Prison. Five of the six were convicted of offences connected with the IRA. The sixth was an armed robber.