McClaren v News Group Newspapers Ltd, High Court
The High Court recently ruled that it would not grant an interim non-disclosure order to prevent The Sun from publishing a story that set out information about Steve McClaren, the former England football manager, in relation to an extra-marital affair. The High Court has now set out its reasoning for refusing to grant the order.
The High Court considered that Steve McClaren:
1) was a public figure;
2) had already disclosed an affair in a national newspaper and at the same time insisted he was in a happy marriage, such that the story that The Sun intended to publish proved “hypocrisy” on his part;
3) was someone from whom the public was entitled to expect a higher standard of conduct; and
4) was unlikely to obtain a permanent injunction;
and so The Sun had a legitimate interest in publishing the story in question.