Super-injunctions for celebrities undermine democracy, says judge

The use of "super-injunctions" to gag the reporting of celebrities' private lives risks undermining the principle of open justice, one of the country's leading judges warned.

The Master of the Rolls, Lord Neuberger, said that democracy and the rule of law were in danger of being undermined if the court orders are granted too often.

Sir Fred Goodwin, the former chief executive of the Royal Bank of Scotland who was heavily criticised for his role in its collapse, is the latest high profile figure to obtain one of the orders.

The injunction was so strict that it barred reporting even the fact that he was a banker. It can be only be disclosed because an MP revealed its existence in Parliament.

Others who have obtained "super-injunctions" include Chelsea captain John Terry, who won a court order barring publication of details of his affair with model Vanessa Perroncel, the ex-partner of team-mate Wayne Bridge. Lord Neuberger's comments came in a speech at the Royal Courts of Justice.