"Daily Mail comment piece on the death of Boyzone singer Stephen Gately did not break the law, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has said," reports the BBC. "Jan Moir's article caused some offence but there was insufficient evidence it breached the law, it found. Moir said in the article that Gately's death struck a blow to the happy-ever-after myth of civil partnerships. Gately's civil partner had complained to the Press Complaints Commission.

Tony Connell, CPS London complex casework lawyer, said: "In coming to this conclusion I have paid particular attention to Article 10 of the Human Rights Act which protects individuals' freedom of expression.

"It is an established legal principle that this freedom applies equally to information and ideas that are favourably received as to those which offend, shock and disturb.

"Though the complainants and many others found this article offensive, this does not make its publication unlawful." READ MORE


MORE IN-DEPTH COVERAGE:

• Stephen Gately's widower makes official complaint about Jan Moir's homophobic column
• Homophobic newspaper column sparks outrage
• Stephen Gately's untimely death not a suicide nor drug related, says family
• Sad news: Out singer and actor, Stephen Gately (Boyzone), dead at 33