A regional daily reporter was barred from a parish council meeting which discussed a policy affecting a five-year-old girl – despite the story already being in the public domain.

Norwich Evening News journalist Tom Bristow, left, was prevented from attending a Hellesdon Parish Council in which councillors discussed a policy which prevented a five-year-old diabetic girl from attending a Christmas party.

The paper had already carried the story that childminder Sam Dade was told she could not stay with her daughter Tilly-Rose at the council’s Christmas party because she was not CRB checked by them, despite being checked by another authority.

Tom argued that the press and public should not be excluded from the council’s subsequent debate over the policy as the story was already in the public domain.

Said Tom:  “It is ridiculous to exclude the press from a meeting in order to protect the identity of someone already splashed across a newspaper.

“It also sets a very dangerous precedent if councils think they can discuss policies at a public meeting in private.”

Some councillors objected to Tom’s exclusion but the Liberal Democrat group, led by council chairman Karen Petch, voted to hold the meeting behind closed doors.

When challenged, the chairman said she was barring the press and public because the discussion was about “a very young child and about our policies and procedures”.

Backing the paper’s stance, Mrs Dade said:  “I have annulled her (Tilly-Rose’s) anonymity by approaching the press, so the press and public should have been allowed to stay.

“They have not got an inclusive policy. They are excluding a child who needs a carer.”

It is understood that councillors reached a decision at the meeting on whether Mrs Dade could attend the party with her daughter, but she went to one held by the Norwich and District Diabetes Youth Group instead.