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The Bermuda Sun opposed Government's bid to gag the press and editor Tony McWilliam, working closely with legal advisors, filed an affidavit with the Supreme Court spelling out the newspaper's position.

Here are some of the key points:

"The Bermuda Sun has not seen or received any confidential police files concerning the Bermuda Housing Corporation inquiry [and] does not have the allegedly stolen confidential police files in its possession, custody or power. Nor does it have copies... there is simply no evidence against the [Bermuda Sun].

"Moreover, there is an important point of public interest at issue here...There is a well-recognized exception to the law of confidence that permits the dissemination or publication of otherwise confidential information where this is in the public interest. While the Bermuda Sun cannot attest to the accuracy or fairness of the journalism purveyed by other media, and nor will it speculate on the motivations of other journalists or the timing of their actions, it strongly believe[s] that serious allegations involving public officials - regardless of whether they relate to contemporary events or events that took place years ago - should be fully aired in public.

"The Bermuda Sun has no knowledge of how other media obtained its information; but in this instance the Bermuda Sun believes that the public's right to know about the questionable actions of elected officials far outweighs any concerns about any breaches of confidence. Irrespective of whether or not any crimes were committed by public officials, the Bermudian public has an immutable right to know what happened, who was involved and whether or not the legal and administrative apparatus of their country held to account anyone who might have abused their public office.

"As a journalist, I am dismayed and disappointed that the police and Attorney General are attempting to block the publication of this material.

"The Bermuda Sun respectfully suggests that the country's interests would better served if their efforts were focused on finding answers to the public's innumerable questions about the issues raised by the police investigation and determining whether or not systems are in place to prevent any recurrence of the kind of events that have shaken public confidence in the

integrity of our public

institutions.

"The Bermuda Sun vehemently opposes this injunction, primarily on principle. Freedom of the press is a cornerstone of all healthy democracies and any attempt to undermine that freedom besmirches the island's hard-earned, global reputation for sound governance.

"It is a dangerously retrograde step and an affront to the values of openness and honesty that Bermudians hold so dearly."[[In-content Ad]]

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