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| 'Bulger killers' images': Two admit contempt of court | 'Bulger killers' images': Two admit contempt of court |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Two men who published photographs on Twitter and Facebook said to show the killers of James Bulger have admitted being in contempt of court. | Two men who published photographs on Twitter and Facebook said to show the killers of James Bulger have admitted being in contempt of court. |
| The High Court heard Neil Harkins, of Bridlington, East Yorkshire, and Dean Liddle, of Sunderland, posted images purporting to show the pair as adults. | The High Court heard Neil Harkins, of Bridlington, East Yorkshire, and Dean Liddle, of Sunderland, posted images purporting to show the pair as adults. |
| There is a global ban on publishing anything revealing their identities. | There is a global ban on publishing anything revealing their identities. |
| Jon Venables and Robert Thompson were convicted of murdering two-year-old James in Merseyside in February 1993. | Jon Venables and Robert Thompson were convicted of murdering two-year-old James in Merseyside in February 1993. |
| They were jailed for life, but released in 2001 and given new identities. | They were jailed for life, but released in 2001 and given new identities. |
| The BBC's Clive Coleman, who is at the hearing at the High Court in London, said Mr Harkins was close to tears as the case was outlined. | The BBC's Clive Coleman, who is at the hearing at the High Court in London, said Mr Harkins was close to tears as the case was outlined. |
| Both Harkins and Liddle have apologised for their posts, our correspondent added. | Both Harkins and Liddle have apologised for their posts, our correspondent added. |
| A High Court injunction prohibits the publication of any images or information claiming to identify or locate Venables or Thompson - even if it is not actually them. The order also covers material published on the internet. | A High Court injunction prohibits the publication of any images or information claiming to identify or locate Venables or Thompson - even if it is not actually them. The order also covers material published on the internet. |
| A finding that someone has committed contempt of court by breaching an injunction order banning identification can lead to a fine or imprisonment. | A finding that someone has committed contempt of court by breaching an injunction order banning identification can lead to a fine or imprisonment. |
| 'Opinionated Dad' | |
| During Friday's hearing, Melanie Cumberland, counsel for the attorney general, said the contempt proceedings against Liddle and Harkins had been necessary to stem the "very real risk of serious physical harm or death" to any person who might be identified, whether correctly or incorrectly, as Venables or Thompson. | During Friday's hearing, Melanie Cumberland, counsel for the attorney general, said the contempt proceedings against Liddle and Harkins had been necessary to stem the "very real risk of serious physical harm or death" to any person who might be identified, whether correctly or incorrectly, as Venables or Thompson. |
| She added it was in the public's interest to enforce the injunction banning the revelation of their identities. | She added it was in the public's interest to enforce the injunction banning the revelation of their identities. |
| On 14 February 2013 - two days after the 20th anniversary of James Bulger's murder - both Liddle and Harkins uploaded photographs claiming to depict Venables and Thompson as adults to social networking sites, the court heard. | On 14 February 2013 - two days after the 20th anniversary of James Bulger's murder - both Liddle and Harkins uploaded photographs claiming to depict Venables and Thompson as adults to social networking sites, the court heard. |
| Harkins posted the images on Facebook, while Liddle used Twitter. | Harkins posted the images on Facebook, while Liddle used Twitter. |
| The contents of their posts revealed they were aware of the existence of the ban, but went on to breach it anyway, the court was told. | The contents of their posts revealed they were aware of the existence of the ban, but went on to breach it anyway, the court was told. |
| Ms Cumberland said Harkins' post had come to light after a concerned member of the public alerted the police. | |
| After being contacted by the treasury solicitor's office, he had immediately taken it down and apologized by email, she said. | |
| Harkins followed this with a hand written letter of apology explaining that, as a parent, he had been upset by the killing of James Bulger. But his post was shared by 24,000 people, the court heard. | |
| Liddle, a graphic designer, had posted while on Twitter, using the name "Opinionated Dad" - with some 950 followers. | |
| His post was up for about an hour in the early hours of the morning, before being removed, Ms Cumberland told the court. His tweet was seen by someone at the attorney-general's office who subsequently wrote to him. | |
| Liddle later said in a letter that he said he had not realised how serious the situation was, the court heard. | |
| Addressing the judges, Sir John Thomas and Mr Justice Tugendhat, Ms Cumberland said the anniversary of James's death had led to photos and information being posted online by numerous individuals and shared hundreds, if not thousands, of times. | Addressing the judges, Sir John Thomas and Mr Justice Tugendhat, Ms Cumberland said the anniversary of James's death had led to photos and information being posted online by numerous individuals and shared hundreds, if not thousands, of times. |
| The attorney-general was currently considering whether to prosecute other individuals, but had not yet issued any, she said. | |
| Secret identity | Secret identity |
| Attorney-General Dominic Grieve announced he was taking legal action in February after the photographs appeared online. The images were later removed. | Attorney-General Dominic Grieve announced he was taking legal action in February after the photographs appeared online. The images were later removed. |
| It is the first time the attorney-general has issued contempt proceedings over the use of social media, although people have been fined for breaking the law on Twitter or Facebook in several high-profile cases. | It is the first time the attorney-general has issued contempt proceedings over the use of social media, although people have been fined for breaking the law on Twitter or Facebook in several high-profile cases. |
| Venables and Thompson were 10 years old when they abducted two-year-old James in Bootle, Merseyside before torturing and killing him. | Venables and Thompson were 10 years old when they abducted two-year-old James in Bootle, Merseyside before torturing and killing him. |
| They were convicted later in the year and both released in 2001, receiving a new secret identity and address. | They were convicted later in the year and both released in 2001, receiving a new secret identity and address. |
| Venables was jailed for two years in July 2010 after admitting downloading and distributing indecent images of children. He has been refused parole. | Venables was jailed for two years in July 2010 after admitting downloading and distributing indecent images of children. He has been refused parole. |