Website editor faces legal action | Media | guardian.co.uk

Lawyers acting for the principal of a Catholic college are to apply for a court order demanding that a website editor reveal the identity of a letter-writer.

It concerns the publication of an anonymously written letter on a site called Independent Catholic News about St Mary's University College, Twickenham.

According to lawyers cited in a story about the legal action in The Tablet, the letter is alleged to defame the college principal, Philip Esler, and two other members of its senior management.

The not-for-profit website is edited by Josephine Siedlecka, who was named in June as one of the Catholic women of the year. She has taken down the letter, which was published on 3 October.

But lawyers are pressing for her to name the author. Jennifer Agate, of the London law firm Wiggin, said that it was responsible journalism for authors to be named.

Siedlecka has told The Tablet she will not reveal the writer's identity in keeping with long-established protocol that journalists do not reveal their sources, and are willing to face to prison for refusing to do so.

Sources: The Tablet/ICN

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