Why Walliams' unprecedented legal battle to stay anonymous failed
Summary
David Walliams lost his bid for a permanent injunction to stop the Guardian and ITN publishing an investigation that named him in connection with allegations of sexual misconduct. The High Court ruled that protecting his life was the responsibility of clinicians and the hospital treating him, and weighed that against the media’s right to publish a report it described as being in the public interest.Key Facts
- Walliams sought a permanent injunction that would have prevented the news organisations from publishing their investigation.
- The Guardian and ITN named Walliams after the court rejected his bid to remain anonymous.
- Walliams said he was “not a sexual predator” and had not “broken the law.”
- His lawyers argued that publishing the investigation could put his life at risk and breach his human rights.
- Justice Nicklin said responsibility for Walliams’ protection lay with clinicians and the hospital where he had been detained.
- The judge said the court’s role was to resolve the legal dispute, not to oversee Walliams’ psychiatric treatment or safety.
- The judge found no evidence to support a claim that publication would violate Walliams’ private family life.
- The court said Walliams could sue for defamation if the media’s claims were wrong.
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