Irish Daily Star faces closure by Northern & Shell after printing the Kate photographs

The Irish Daily Star yesterday, 15 September, took the decision to print the photographs of a topless Kate Middleton on a private holiday with her husband.

At the time the editor of the Republic of Ireland publication, which is a branch of the UK titles, Michael O'Kane defended the use of the pictures, stating: "The duchess would be no different to any other celeb pics we would get in, for example Rihanna or Lady Gaga. She's not the future queen of Ireland, so really the only place this is causing fury seems to be in the UK, and they are very, very tasteful pictures."

Now Irish Daily Star's part-owner Richard Desmond, owner of the publishing company Northern & Shell, has announced he will be taking steps to close down the paper.

The Guardian reported that he has already instructed lawyers to begin the necessary legal action to terminate publication, with Desmond confirming: "I am very angry at the decision to publish these photographs and am taking immediate steps to close down the joint venture. The decision to publish these pictures has no justification whatever and Northern & Shell condemns it in the strongest possible terms."

Despite O’Kane’s justifications, if sued by Kate and William the Irish Daily Star will not be exempt from the strict UK privacy laws, as it is owned by a media company with some of its assets in the UK.