Public banned from tweeting in courtrooms

ONLY journalists and lawyers will be allowed to tweet live from court from now on.

Ireland’s Chief Justice Mr Justice Frank Clarke announced yesterday that members of the public will be banned from social media use as he spoke about the difficulties it is having on cases.

Referring to the Belfast Rape Trial where the complainant was named on social media, Mr Justice Clark said it showed the need for guidelines. ‘It underlines the need to confine the use of social media in the courtroom to those who know the rules,’ he told a seminar of journalists in Dublin.

‘From this month on a new practice direction – signed by the presidents of all the court jurisdictions – will limit the use of court-based data messaging and electronic devices, to bonafide members of the press and bonafide lawyers with business in the courts.

‘Others in court will be unable to text or message from the courtroom – in any form.’