In an unprecedented move, the British judicial system has taken a dramatic step that could have far-reaching implications for press freedom and international jurisdiction. In what appears to be the first time in UK legal history, an individual residing outside British jurisdiction has been granted permission to be prosecuted for reporting on a news story covered by a D-Notice (Defence and Security Media Advisory Notice).
Angela Power-Disney, an independent journalist and activist currently living in Ireland, announced the development in a Facebook update earlier today. In her post, she wrote:
“I just finished attending remotely a 'trial' against me to establish if the UK can prosecute journalists out of jurisdiction in the Royal Courts of Injustice in the UK.
Justice SIR Matthew James Nicklin was very courteous but went ahead and granted permission to the UK solicitor general to attempt to prosecute me for criminal contempt of court for reporting on a D notice secret trial in Wales in late July. The prosecutor for the solicitor general was most unpleasant.”
The story in question relates to the controversial Wilfred Wong kidnap case from 2021, which involved allegations of child abuse and the attempted removal of a child to expose perceived failures within the family court system. Power-Disney’s reporting allegedly revealed details of a protected relationship between the woman involved in the kidnapping and the alleged victim—information which UK authorities had actively sought to suppress via a D-Notice.
A D-Notice (now formally known as a DSMA-Notice) is a government-issued request to news editors not to publish or broadcast items on specified subjects for reasons of national security or public interest. While not legally binding, they are usually adhered to by mainstream UK media. However, Power-Disney, as an independent journalist operating from outside the UK, did not fall under the traditional umbrella of British press regulation.
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This case now raises serious questions over extraterritorial reach—specifically, whether the UK can legally prosecute someone residing in another country for publishing information that is only restricted within the UK’s own jurisdiction.
Legal experts are divided. Civil liberties advocates are alarmed by the implications. One free speech watchdog called the move “a dangerous overreach that sets a troubling global precedent.” Others argue that, in the age of international broadcasting and digital journalism, jurisdiction must evolve to reflect global realities.
The identity and relationship of the woman involved in the Wilfred Wong case remain subject to a strict reporting ban in the UK, but Power-Disney’s disclosures have already been circulated widely online—drawing both criticism and praise depending on one's view of government secrecy and child protection.
Justice Sir Matthew James Nicklin, who presided over the hearing, has a reputation for balancing freedom of expression with privacy and contempt laws. However, his decision to permit this prosecution could mark a turning point in how the UK enforces its judicial reach in the digital era.
As the solicitor general's office prepares to move forward, all eyes will be on the international legal community to see whether Ireland will cooperate with UK prosecutors—or if this marks the beginning of a complex, multinational legal standoff over freedom of the press in the 21st century.
