A regional daily which successfully challenged an invalid reporting restriction made in relation to an unborn baby has been absolved of wrongdoing by the press watchdog.

The Northern Echo challenged the order, made by a magistrate under section 45 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999, while reporting on a woman charged with administering poison with intent to procure a miscarriage, and child destruction.

The 23-year-old, from Shildon, County Durham, was later convicted of the first offence.

The order was made in reference to the victim in the case, an unborn baby, and was rescinded after the court realised the error.

The defendant’s father complained to the Independent Press Standards Organisation on behalf of his daughter, that the Northern Echo breached Clause 1 (Accuracy) and Clause 3 (Privacy) over and article which reported she had appeared in court .

The complainant said that at the time of publication there restriction prevented identification of his daughter by the press.

He also said that photographing her outside her home without her knowledge or consent, and publishing a photograph clearly showing her door number, represented a further breach od Clause 3.

In relation to the complaint under Clause 1, the complainant said that his daughter had one child, not three, as reported.

During IPSO’s investigation the complainant provided copies of his correspondence with the court, which said that when the complainant’s daughter was sentenced the press had made an application to have the reporting restriction removed, and the complainant’s daughter’s barrister had not opposed it.

The Echo said that there had been no valid reporting restriction in place, and that the photograph of the complainant’s daughter had been taken in a public place after her address had been given in open court.

The newspaper had taken the information regarding how many children she had from her Facebook page, but offered to print a correction and apology on this point.

The complaint was not upheld, and the full adjudication can be read here.