John Andrew explains the PCC's decision

Complaints had been made against the tabloid for paying for a criminal's story.

The commission's code states that convicted criminals should not be paid unless it is in the interest of the public to secure a story by payment.

The former au pair was convicted of murdering Matthew Eappen in October 1997.

Louise on trial for the murder of baby Matthew Eappen

The conviction was later reduced to manslaughter and she was sentenced to the time she had already served in jail.

In findings published on Wednesday, the commission ruled that the Woodward family could not have profited from selling their story because of their financial plight.

The adjudication reads: "Payment ... was made in return for interviews in which new material was released to the public. The interviews formed an integral part of the newspaper's campaign on a matter of significant public controversy.

"Payment was clearly necessary because of the obvious financial plight of the Woodwards at the time.

"No trust fund existed to support Mrs Woodward's stay in the United States to be with her daughter, and the au pair agency had at that time indicated it could not fund an appeal.

"The commission believed the newpaper's assesment of the sums necessary to support Mrs Woodward's efforts on behalf of her daughter was of the right order, and there can have been no money left from it as profit.