Leading north Belfast UVF member Mark Haddock has abandoned his legal attempt to ban the media from disclosing his future whereabouts.
His lawyers confirmed today that the case would not proceed, only days before it was due to be heard.
Haddock (40) is close to completing a 10-year jail sentence for attacking a nightclub doorman. He wanted to stop any publication of a planned name change and address after he leaves prison, amid claims that he is under imminent death threat.
Mr Justice Deeny gave a judgment on consent for the media organisations who contested Haddock's application. A costs order was also made against Haddock, which means that if he is later discovered to have amassed any substantial assets he could be forced to pay their legal bill.
Media organisations including the BBC, UTV and the Irish Newshad resisted his bid for an injunction by claiming his crime history, activities, and whereabouts are of legitimate public and journalistic interest.
Haddock is serving a sentence for attacking Trevor Gowdy outside a social club in Monkstown on the northern outskirts of Belfast in December 2002. He was shot up to seven times in Newtownabbey, Co Antrim while out on bail before his conviction in 2006.
Earlier this month he was charged with murdering Tommy English, a leading Ulster Defence Association member, eight years ago.
Mr English (40), was shot in front of his wife at their home on the Ballyduff Estate, Newtownabbey, in 2000.
His killing was part of a violent UVF-UDA feud which claimed seven lives.
Haddock was charged in prison by officers from the Historical Enquiries Team - a specialist police unit set up to prove unsolved killings. He is also accused of membership of the Ulster Volunteer Force between 1996 and 2000.
During a brief hearing last week it was claimed that he was charged after two brothers linked to the murder gave statements which also implicated up to 10 others.