THIS week I faced a huge dilemma perhaps the biggest of my professional life.

A draconian court order sought to keep this newspaper, and every other media organisation, from printing a vitally-important story which every reader had the right to know.

The choice was to ignore the story altogether or run it in every one of our 12 News Shoppers (publishing the story in just one edition and identifying the area affected by the story would have contravened the judge's court order).

I took the decision that to remain silent would run the risk of destroying all News Shopper has come to stand for.

Instead, the story has had to appear on every front page, even the 11 areas not affected by this massive HIV scare. I realise this could lead to some readers being unnecessarily concerned, but, ultimately, I do not feel there was any choice.

Whilst recognising the rights of individuals, this newspaper will continue to do everything in its power to fight decisions such as this.

We have always sought to deliver you the truth and will do everything in our power to ensure this continues.

The fact that hundreds of people within the News Shopper's area are being forced to take HIV tests should not go unreported.

To seek to suppress such information is fundamentally wrong.