The Crown Prosecution Service yesterday applied for all or part of the trial of former MI5 officer David Shayler to be held behind closed doors under the terms of the Official Secrets Act.
An application by the CPS was posted in the Old Bailey, where Middlesbrough-born Mr Shayler is scheduled to appear for a hearing on November 2. He said: "Open justice is a fundamental part of any civilised society, but this government is trying to gag the press." Shayler, 34, faces charges under the Official Secrets Act of disclosing secret documents and information in relation to an article in a newspaper in 1997
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