Sun journalists acquitted in misconduct in public Office Trial

Four Sun journalists were acquitted on Friday at the Central Criminal Court of conspiring to commit misconduct in public office.

Over the course of a ten week trial, the court heard that £100,000 was paid to Ministry of Defence official Bettina Jordan-Barber for information leading to stories by The Sun’s Chief Reporter John Kay. Some of the payments requested by John Kay were authorised by Deputy Editor, Fergus Shanahan. It was said there was a clear public interest in the stories, covering topics such as military equipment shortages and failings, deaths in action, bullying, and serious criminal conduct by army personnel.

Trevor Burke QC and Patrick Hill represented The Sun’s Chief Reporter, John Kay.

Rachel Barnes represented the newspaper’s Deputy Editor, Fergus Shanahan.

23rd March 2015