Former Kinglake Ranges News publisher Ashley Geelan has failed in his latest legal bid.

Mr Geelan had applied to Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court in early January for a Personal Safety Intervention Order against Local Paper owner Ash Long. Mr Geelan had unsuccessfully applied to the same Court in November for a similar order. That was struck out when Mr Geelan failed to appear at Court on December 10.

The effect of the interim orders, issued without the knowledge of The Local Paper owner at the time, was that no reports about Mr Geelan, or the criminal court cases in which he is the defendant, could be published in print or online from November to December, or from early January until now.

Mr Geelan also failed to attend at Court this morning (Tues., Feb. 25). No explanation was given to the Court.

Mr Long submitted to the Court that Mr Geelan’s claims were unsubstantiated. The Court was satisfied to strike out Mr Geelan’s application. The legal impediments relating to publishing details of the Court cases against Mr Geelan have been lifted from today.

Mr Geelan is due to face a number of criminal charges on March 10 at Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court. Contested mentions are set down for cases brought by Eltham Police, which are believed to relate to allegations of stalking, breach of bail, and breach of an intervention orders. Mr Geelan is also due to face an allegation of a breach, brought by Community Corrections Centre.

Mr Geelan was publisher of the Kinglake Ranges News, which has not been published since November last year. Mr Geelan was due to publish Victorian News from January 1, but this too has failed to appear.