Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Campbell-Savours (Labour). It was answered on Monday, 12 March 2007.

Crime: Rape

Question: My Lords, is there not a huge injustice to the accused in this case? A woman rifles through the dustbin of a reputable consultant, finds a used condom, smears the contents on herself and makes a false allegation of rape. Because the accused has no right to anonymity, he is suspended as a consultant psychiatrist, hauled before the GMC, shunned by his friends, attacked on the internet, loses £100,000—part of which was income—and is then discredited in his own community. Should we not be looking at the law on anonymity for men, as there are many cases of destroyed reputations?

Answer: My Lords, I cannot confirm the details that my noble friend has given about what happened. This was plainly a dreadful case in which a very determined woman went to extraordinary lengths to manufacture an allegation of rape against this man. It was discovered; she was prosecuted; for this and for the harassment of the man and his former girlfriend, she received nine years in prison. That isa robust response to this exceptional case. As to the general question of anonymity for defendants, we have debated it before and the Government’s view is that defendants generally should not have anonymity.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 690 c441
Session: 2006-07
Oral question type: 1st Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Lords chamber
Subjects: Disclosure of information Law Privacy Rape Reform Rights of accused Perjury Marchese, Maria Falkowski, Jan
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk