Papers may appeal Bulger anonymity ruling

Judge Dame Butler-Sloss has given media organisations leave to appeal against the order banning identification of James Bulger's killers.

The case may now end up in the Court of Appeal if newspapers decide to pursue the case.

In her ruling Dame Elizabeth said she recognised "the enormous importance" of upholding freedom of expression and the right of the press to publish.

But injunctions were necessary to restrain the media from disclosing information about the new identity, appearance or addresses of Venables and Thompson when they were released from detention.

It was also necessary to prevent publication of information about their present appearance and whereabouts in order to protect them on release.

But she said that after 12 months it would no longer be necessary to restrain disclosure of information about the past, including their time in detention, which was not already protected by the existing rules of confidentiality.

The judge made clear that the injunctions she was granting today would prevent the media in England and Wales from publishing information gathered from the internet or the media outside the court's jurisdiction over which the English courts had no control.

She said the Parole Board would soon be making inquiries and compiling a report prior to considering whether the boys should be released.

It was essential that the nature of the inquiries, the content of the report and the Parole Board hearing itself were covered by the injunctions.