Attorney general drops Sky News contempt action

The attorney general has dropped contempt of court proceedings against Sky News, begun after the broadcaster breached an injunction preventing news organisations publishing information about the whereabouts of kidnapped British couple Paul and Rachel Chandler during their release in November 2010.

The injunction was put in place to protect the safety of the couple, who were held hostage for 13 months after their yacht was raided by Somali pirates between the Seychelles and Tanzania, and stipulated that information about their welfare could not be published until they reached a place of safety outside of the Somalia.

In November, attorney general Dominic Grieve QC sought permission to begin contempt proceedings against the broadcaster after it reported that the couple had reached a town in Somalia called Adado.

Mr Justice Eady granted permission for the action to proceed, but a spokesperson for the attorney general said today: "The attorney general brought proceedings in his role as guardian of the public interest.

"The attorney general has reconsidered the public interest test in the light of additional relevant information and has concluded that proceedings are no longer required."

The injunction was obtained by the Chandler's family, who were concerned that the level of media coverage had the potential to compromise the couple's safe release.

Sky News said in November that it had "followed the spirit, if not the letter" of the injunction.

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