A convicted rapist who became embroiled in a legal dispute with the Ministry of Justice has lost a fight to keep his name out of media reports.
Senior judges ruled that Stephen Fagan, who is in his late 40s and comes from Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, could be named after newspapers argued that the public had a right to know.
Fagan was given a 14-year jail term by a judge sitting in Newcastle upon Tyne in 2006 after being convicted of committing two rapes – and of administering a drug with intent to commit a crime – in the north-east of England.
The dispute over the publication of his name developed earlier this year after he began publicly-funded legal action in an attempt to win the right to live in Scotland following his release from prison on licence.
Fagan, who wants to re-settle in Airdrie, said members of his family might become a “target of hostility” if his return was reported.
And his lawyers argued that there was a need to “prevent the risk of violence”.
In June a High Court judge ruled that Fagan could be named – but he imposed a temporary reporting ban until the case had been analysed by the Court of Appeal.
Three appeal judges also ruled that Fagan could be named – after a hearing in London – and lifted the reporting ban.