According to reports, the High Court was informed that both Gallagher and Appleton are opposed to lifting reporting restrictions about their divorce battle. On 14 September 2015, both parties had presented His Honour Judge O’Dwyer with a joint application to prohibit the media from being present at the courtroom hearing they were soon to embark at the Central Family Court.

The matrimonial dispute between the high-profile couple has emphasised the ambiguity surrounding what can be communicated by the media concerning family law. Since 2009 when the law was implemented that permits the admission of the press into family courts, journalists have been able to observe proceedings in family law cases, whilst the public are prohibited.

However, as Mr Justice Mostyn told The Guardian:

“The press come in half-blindfolded…. The role of the press is more watchdog than as members of the public.”

Referring to the system as “crazy”, Mr Justice Mostyn said that the regulations regarding what can and cannot be written in the media about family court disputes remain unclear.

“Sometimes the court has to issue an unanonymised judgement to prevent speculation becoming new truth,” said the judge, adding that the government needs to address the issues currently existing in a system that is a “half-built house”.

Mr Justice Mostyn’s comments were made in the wake of the application made by the press for reporting restrictions to be lifted on the divorce battle between Liam Gallagher and Nicole Appleton.

However, barrister Jacob Dean, a media, information and sports law specialist, who is counsel for News UK, said there had been no evidence to suggest reporting about the Gallagher/Appleton divorce would evoke distress or damage.

According to Dean, commentary about divorces is of the public’s interest as it allows the public to learn about divorce proceedings, how family courts operate and how assets are fairly divided.

Dean spoke of how relying on less prolific divorce case reports would fail to rouse so much media attention, adding:

“The way the public is educated is in reading stories about people and what happens to them when they are involved in proceedings.”

It is no secret that the former Oasis frontman and his ex-wife have been locked in a bitter dispute over the financial terms of their divorce. The couple split in 2013 after five years of marriage when it emerged that Gallagher had fathered a child with American journalist Liza Ghorbani. The couple divorced in April 2014.

Celebrity divorces often get enormous amounts of publicity. It is not uncommon for celebrities to issue publicity statements, often as a means of putting their own spin on the situation before the media get the chance.

In the case of Gallagher and Appleton, both parties have voiced their opposition to the lifting of reporting restrictions about their matrimonial dispute.

What are your thoughts about what should and should not be reported related to family court cases? Do you think it is within the public’s interest to read about divorcing celebrities as a means of educating people about family court procedures? Or should we respect the privacy of people in the public eye by having family court proceeding restrictions in place?

In the meantime, if you have any questions related to divorce and family law, get in touch with the Tracey Miller Family Law team, specialists in guiding people through the divorce process and providing crucial advice on everything from financial settlements to custody claims.