A SCOTTISH book publisher has welcomed a Supreme Court ruling which gives one of its authors the go-ahead to release a book detailing sexual abuse he suffered as a child as a victory for freedom of speech.
James Rhodes, 40, persuaded Supreme Court justices to lift an injunction which barred publication of his autobiographical book, Instrumental.
The Court of Appeal had granted an injunction temporarily blocking publication of parts of the book after Mr Rhodes' ex-wife raised fears that detail would come to the attention of their 12-year-old son and cause him ''serious harm''.
Mr Rhodes then asked the Supreme Court for a ruling.
Five Supreme Court justices announced the decision after analysing the case at a hearing in London in January.
Justices had ruled that Mr Rhodes could not be identified in media reports or on social media channels.
That restriction was lifted today in the light of the ruling.
They said Mr Rhodes could be named but said the names of his son and ex-wife should not be made public.
Mr Rhodes' publisher, Edinburgh-based Canongate, was a co-defendant in the case and vigorously supported Rhodes and their joint right to publish throughout the protracted legal battle that began in the spring of 2014. Instrumental will now be published on Thursday, May 28.
Jamie Byng of Canongate said: "The Supreme Court's decision today is a vindication of Canongate's firmly held belief in the individual's right to freedom of expression and specifically of our belief in James Rhodes's brave and important book, Instrumental. The significance and value of this inspiring memoir that engages with abuse and the redemptive power of music to heal is hard to overstate. And the honesty with which he writes about his experiences is humbling."
Canongate's solicitor, Martin Soames of Simons Muirhead and Burton, added: "This is a significant decision for freedom of speech and for all publishers. Had the injunction been maintained it would have had a serious chilling effect on the publication of any contentious non-fiction. People need to be able to tell the truth about themselves, but their stories would remain unheard if publishers were unwilling to take the risk of publishing them.
"This judgment is a resounding endorsement of James Rhodes' exceptional courage in telling his story, and also Canongate's commitment in bringing it to the public."
Mr Rhodes was at the Supreme Court in London to hear the panel of justices rule in his favour - and was joined by actor Benedict Cumberbatch, a friend from his school days.
After they hugged outside the court, Mr Rhodes said: "This is a victory for freedom of speech.
"If this had been allowed to continue anyone could have used this to ban any book.
"We do not ban books in this country."
He said the decision also sent a message to children who were victims of abuse and added: "I was told not to tell when I was a child. Children are told not to tell. The message is 'tell someone'. This is a victory for victims."
And he said his son would not be harmed by the book.
"I love him more than anything. I am his father," said Mr Rhodes.
"He is not going to read the book. This is not a children's book."
Mr Rhodes was sexually abused at school by a boxing coach and had been ''traumatised'' - suffering episodes of ''severe mental illness'' and self-harming.
He argued that the book contained an ''important message of encouragement'' to those who had suffered similar abuse.
Mr Rhodes' son lives with his mother and has learning difficulties, justices heard.
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