About 10 years ago two boys aged 10 tortured and a 2-year old boy in Liverpool, eventually killing him. The two boys spent the next 8-9 years in a correctional facility. A couple of years ago a judge decided that they no longer were any threat to society, and they should be freed about a year ago.
In order to do so, they and their families were given new identities. A court also ruled that UK media - print or web - would not be allowed to publish anything about what theie new identities - name, place of recidence, anything. The reason is, that if their address was published, there was a strong possibility that someone would try to hurt them - possibly kill them.
Even if the information got into the public domain - say a US or German paper published the name and address of one or both the boys, the UK media would still not be allowed to report on it.
Some people might argue that the two killers shouldn't be set free in the first place, but if they are given a new identity and are set free, something should also be done to protect them. A media ban on reporting their identities is a step in that direction.
Slashdot Mirror
About 10 years ago two boys aged 10 tortured and a 2-year old boy in Liverpool, eventually killing him. The two boys spent the next 8-9 years in a correctional facility. A couple of years ago a judge decided that they no longer were any threat to society, and they should be freed about a year ago.
In order to do so, they and their families were given new identities. A court also ruled that UK media - print or web - would not be allowed to publish anything about what theie new identities - name, place of recidence, anything. The reason is, that if their address was published, there was a strong possibility that someone would try to hurt them - possibly kill them.
Even if the information got into the public domain - say a US or German paper published the name and address of one or both the boys, the UK media would still not be allowed to report on it.
Some people might argue that the two killers shouldn't be set free in the first place, but if they are given a new identity and are set free, something should also be done to protect them. A media ban on reporting their identities is a step in that direction.