Loyalist Haddock seeks media ban

Mark Haddock is currently in jail, serving a 10-year sentence

A loyalist at the centre of allegations of police collusion has begun a High Court attempt to ban the media from reporting his whereabouts.

Mark Haddock is serving a 10-year term for an attack on a nightclub doorman but is due to be released next year.

Haddock is trying to change his name before this, it emerged in court.

His legal application also covered recent photos of himself and his partner, as well as any change of identity and appearance.

Haddock's lawyer told the court his client was under imminent threat of death.

He said the north Belfast loyalist survived an assassination attempt while out on bail before being convicted in November 2006 of grievous bodily harm with intent and false imprisonment.

The lawyer said the application had to be brought immediately because Haddock would be eligible for pre-release home leave later this month.

"If he applies for parole and parole is granted, there's an urgency in obtaining a blanket ban against the Northern Ireland media in disclosing his whereabouts, appearance or in fact the change of name he's attempting to apply for by way of deed poll," he said.

Urgency disputed

A barrister appearing for the BBC and Irish News disputed the urgency in bringing the case at this stage.

"We know when he will be released in early 2009 - there's plenty of time for these issues to be addressed in term time in the usual way," he said.

A lawyer for the Mirror Group accused Haddock of seeking to put "swinging restrictions" on freedom of expression.

"Mr Haddock's past is notorious. In such circumstances the prison authorities may say he's not suitable (for pre-release home leave) to protect the public from him and perhaps to protect him from elements of the public," he said.

Adjourning the application until Thursday, the judge requested further information from Haddock and ordered the Attorney General and Prison Service to be put on notice.