AHEAD of the hearing for Iria Suarez-Gonzalez at Oxford Crown Court, reporting restrictions were put in place to avoid a ‘risk of prejudice’ in proceedings.

Once the Crown Prosecution Service dropped the case altogether, the Oxford Mail successfully argued this week that these restrictions should be lifted.

However, the court heard representations on behalf of the CPS, the defence team for Suarez-Gonzalez and interested parties on behalf of the school that a further injunction may be sought to permanently ban aspects of the case.

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Ahead of a hearing held yesterday, the Oxford Mail put forward an argument, orally and in writing, to presiding Judge Nigel Daly that there was no justification in any reporting restriction being applied.

This newspaper argued that, with proceedings now over, a postponement order could not be enforced and that only a High Court judge could order an injunction.

The Oxford Mail argued: “The Crown Court is a creature of statute and has only those powers expressly conferred on it by Parliament.

“The only place that could possibly hear such an application is the High Court, under its inherent powers.”

At a hearing to decide the issue held on Friday, the court also heard how letters from the CPS and defence teams had also since said they had dropped their opposition.

Two letters from unidentified parents at the school were also received, which urged the court to impose reporting restrictions.

Deciding the issue of reporting restrictions at the court, Judge Nigel Daly sided with this newspaper and called the argument ‘detailed and thorough’.

He said: “I am quite satisfied that this court does not have the power to make a restriction.”