Suppression lifted on child-porn accused politician Bernard Finnigan MP Bernard Finnigan pictured outside the Adelaide Magistrates Court after the suppression order was lifted the first time. Picture: Greg Higgs Source: adelaidenow ADELAIDE'S media have won a landmark freedom of speech ruling that means the identity of politician Bernard Finnigan, accused of child pornography offences, can be published once again. In the Adelaide Magistrates Court this afternoon, Chief Magistrate Liz Bolton made the first-ever decision under amendments to the Evidence Act (1929), just 24 hours after they came into effect. She gave permission for Finnigan's name and image to be published after hearing submissions - made by adelaidenow, the ABC and channels 7 and 9 - that his identity was of public interest. Two weeks ago, the Full Court of the Supreme Court overturned orders that Finnigan stand trial on aggravated counts of obtaining and taking steps to obtain child pornography. The media could therefore no longer name or show Finnigan, despite having widely publicised his case for several months. Yesterday, an amendment to that legislation - drafted by Attorney-General John Rau - came into effect. In court today, Peter Campbell, for the media, asked Ms Bolton to exercise her new-found discretion. "If the media were prevented from reporting this man's identity, it would be not only artificial but undesirable," he said. It would undermine public confidence in the justice system and how it works, and cause people to ask questions about public figures receiving special treatment. This is a case where one might be able to lock the stable door but the horse has well and truly bolted - and it's not going back inside. Michael Abbott, QC, for Finnigan, said his client neither opposed nor consented to the media's application. "Mr Finnigan is well aware of the extent to which his name has been published," he said. Ms Bolton made the order.