PART 1Defamation

Absolute privilege

9Contemporaneous reports of court proceedings

1

The contemporaneous publication of a statement which is a fair and accurate report of proceedings in public before a court to which this section applies is absolutely privileged.

2

Where the publication of a report of proceedings is required to be postponed—

a

by an order of the court, or

b

as a consequence of a statutory provision,

it is to be treated as being contemporaneously published if it is published as soon as practicable after that is permitted.

3

This section applies to—

a

any court in the United Kingdom,

b

any court established under the law of a country or territory outside the United Kingdom, and

c

any international court or tribunal established by the Security Council of the United Nations or by an international agreement.

4

For the purposes of subsection (3)(a) and (b), “court” includes any tribunal or body exercising the judicial power of the State.