Sky News - Legal Cases

Legal Cases

• November 2008, BSkyB paid substantial undisclosed libel damages to Robert Murat in relation to their reporting of the abduction of Madeleine McCann. Sky news had falsely suggested that Murat, who was assisting in the search of McCann, had acted liked child murder Ian Huntley following McCann's disappearance. Sky News also falsely accused Murat of misleading journalists into thinking he was working for the police. An apology was also placed on the Sky News website, the libellous material removed, and Murat's costs were paid.

• November 2010, the UK attorney general has was given the right to launch contempt of court proceedings against Sky News over the broadcaster's alleged breach of a media injunction. It was relation overed reporting of the story of Paul and Rachel Chandler, the Kent couple who were held captive by Somali pirates for 13 months. The media was blocked from publishing details of the couple's "health and welfare" prior to them being freed on 14 November 2010. Sky claims that it "scrupulously observed the terms of the injunction", but also admitted that it "followed the spirit, if not the letter" of the order. At the time, lawyers representing the Chandlers obtained the court order over fears that their lives could be put in danger by the media reporting their capture. Sky News is alleged to have breached the injunction on the day of their release around from Somalia, leading attorney general Dominic Grieve QC to seek permission at the High Court to bring contempt proceedings.