NI: Executive cannot be compelled to legislate to protect young suspects’ identities
![NI: Executive cannot be compelled to legislate to protect young suspects' identities](https://gallery.mailchimp.com/f3db92458376702a006e7c0d9/images/8575cd8d-f81e-4223-9d58-b26230905959.jpg)
The Department of Justice cannot be compelled to legislate to protect the identities of minors who are suspected of crimes, the High Court in Belfast has ruled.
It follows a legal challenge by a 15-year-old boy who was identified in newspapers as a suspect in a cyber attack.
The Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999, which prevents under-18s being named in connection with alleged crimes, has yet to be commenced in Northern Ireland by the NI Executive.
Handing down his ruling, Mr Justice Adrian Colton said: “The respondent cannot be compelled to legislate on this matter.
“Given the wide margin of appreciation available to the state there is no basis for a finding that the measures in place amount to a breach of any positive obligation imposed under Article 8 or in domestic law.”