A reporter who initially won the right to name a convicted paedophile has now been told she will never be allowed to reveal his identity.

Tanya Fowles was dealt the blow after a judge granted lifetime anonymity to the sex offender on the grounds that he could self-harm if named.

The decision, which is understood to be unprecedented, comes after Tanya won a battle to name the paedophile, who admitted 22 offences involving possessing, distributing and making indecent child images.

But HTFP reported last week how Judge Gordon Kerr QC, sitting at Newry Crown Court, had granted the pervert a temporary stay to support his claim for anonymity because he had threatened to self-harm if identified publicly.

Newry Crown Court

On Monday, Judge Kerr reversed his previous ruling and granted the defendant permanent anonymity.

It is understood to be the only such order in Northern Ireland that did not emanate from a third-party threat to life, while there are currently just six live lifetime anonymity orders relating to cases in England.

In those cases, offenders served prison terms for or associated with murder and have been released under new identities.

The decision comes after HTFP covered in October how Tanya, who covers courts in Northern Ireland in addition to her work as a BBC local democracy reporter, had launched a campaign to curb defendants’ anonymity bids on the grounds of self-harm, describing the issue as “out of control”.

The paedophile was spared jail and placed under a three-year probation order with 60 hours community service, despite an assessment finding he “exhibited sexual preoccupation and had limited victim awareness”.

Tanya is now preparing to challenge the decision to keep his name.

Speaking to HTFP about the case, Tanya said: “At sentencing, defence counsel insisted the reporting restriction imposed at the outset of proceedings based on their client’s threat to self-harm if named publicly, should be made permanent.

“Press argued sentencing ended the proceedings therefore reporting restrictions automatically ceased.

“While the defence detailed a series of self-harm incidents as the case proceeded through court, press pointed out the reporting ban had not prevented these actions rendering it ineffective as a safeguard.

“Press also noted following initial arrest the defendant threatened to self-harm if the case went to court, but this had no impact upon the decision to prosecute.”

She has alerted the Office of the Lady Chief Justice and the Attorney General but has not yet received any repsonse.