Media wins review in Shipman case

The inquiry will examine issues raised by the killings

Eight national newspapers and media groups are to seek a judicial review of the decision to hold a public inquiry about the Shipman murder cases in private.

Mr Justice Silber, at the High Court in London, granted them permission to make the legal move.

This follows a similar legal go-ahead last week for the families of victims of the killer GP Harold Shipman.

The relatives will also challenge the decision not to allow them legal representation at the inquiry hearings.

Many issues raised

Those hearings will examine many varied issues raised by the 54-year-old doctor's killing spree.

The judicial review application was made by Associated Newspapers, Express Newspapers, Guardian Media Group, Guardian Newspapers, MGN Ltd, News Group Newspapers, Telegraph Group and Times Newspapers.

All eight will argue they and the public had a legitimate expectation by reason of an announcement made by Health Secretary Alan Milburn on 1 February that the inquiry would be conducted in public.

Shipman was convicted in January of killing 15 elderly women patients with morphine.

Police suspicions

Detectives suspect he could have been involved in a total of 192 deaths over many years.

The Home Secretary, Jack Straw, has granted permission to the South Manchester Coroner, John Pollard, to hold inquests on 23 more of Shipman's patients.

Police had thought there was enough evidence to charge the GP with their murders but the Director of Public Prosecutions decided Shipman would not be able to have a fair trial.

Review's outcome awaited

An independent inquiry was launched by the government to investigate the conduct of all the authorities involved in monitoring and regulating Shipman's one-man practice at Hyde, Manchester.

It is empowered to examine the roles of the coroner and the police in the investigation, as well as the handling of controlled drugs and the certifying of deaths.

It will not hear any oral evidence until the judicial review's outcome.