Criminal Law (Jurisdiction) Act, 1976

Power to prohibit publication of names and addresses of witnesses.

17.—(1) A court before which proceedings in connection with an offence under section 2 or 3 are being held may direct that the name and address of any witness or the maker of any oral or written statement tendered to the court or any person for the taking of whose evidence the court has made an order under section 11 shall not be disclosed to any person other than the members of the court and its officers, the parties to the proceedings, their counsel and solicitors and, where the court considers it required in the interests of justice, any other person whom the court specifies in the direction or in any subsequent direction.

(2) A person who contravenes a direction under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £200 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both.