BBC wins court battle to run MI5 domestic abuse story
‘This ruling enables us to tell a story we believe is firmly in the public interest and vindicates the BBC’
THE BBC has claimed “vindication” over its MI5 spy story and plans to run it in the coming days after a High Court ruling.
The corporation won a final legal battle with Suella Braverman, the Attorney General, with the judge saying that the BBC could decide which details could be made public without identifying the man they allege used his status as a secret service informant to abuse his partner. An injunction prevents the BBC from identifying X, but it is able to run details of the case which the organisation says is “firmly in the public interest”. A BBC source said that it plans to run the investigation “in the coming days” though a date has not been set.
The report will set out details of how X used his status to abuse, control and coerce a former partner, referred to as “Beth”, and that MI5 either knew or ought to have known about this and it was wrong to employ him.
An injunction preventing his identification was granted after Government lawyers argued that naming X – who they have not confirmed or denied was an MI5 agent – would jeopardise national security and put his life at risk.
The Attorney General had asked the High Court to rule that “X’s name, race, approximate or actual age, appearance, voice, accent, tattoos, racial or ethnic origin, nationality, and heritage” could not be published. But Mr Justice Chamberlain ruled yesterday that the order will ban publication of information “which directly or indirectly identifies X” but specifying which categories would lead to identification “would impose an unjustified interference with the BBC’S freedom of expression”.
He said that the corporation and the journalist involved had the “experience and expertise” to make the decision.
A BBC spokesman said: “This ruling enables us to tell a story we believe is firmly in the public interest, and it is a vindication of the BBC’S investigative journalism.” During the battle over the injunction earlier this year the BBC argued that it should be able to name X as he is “dangerous enough to kill a woman” and he should be identified publicly “to prevent future harm”.
The corporation described him as a “dangerous extremist and misogynist” and said that the story raised “serious questions” about the “attitude of MI5 toward the safety of women”.
But Mr Justice Chamberlain, who considered the case at both open and closed hearings, ruled in favour of the Government.