THE High Court today lifted a cloak of anonymity thrown over Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe as he battles to find out how much longer he must serve in prison before being eligible for parole.

THE High Court today lifted a cloak of anonymity thrown over Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe as he battles to find out how much longer he must serve in prison before being eligible for parole.

A judge said the press was free to name Sutcliffe, 63, as he comes back to court for a ruling.

Previously referred to as "P" to protect his identity, a question mark remains over whether he will have to spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Now known as Peter Coonan, he was convicted at the Old Bailey in London in 1981 of 13 counts of murder and seven counts of attempted murder in Yorkshire and Greater Manchester.

He is currently being held in Broadmoor top security psychiatric hospital after being transferred from prison in 1984 suffering from paranoid schizophrenia.

Today Mr Justice Mitting, sitting in London, was holding a directions hearing to decide what form the tariff setting hearing should take, and what evidence should be admitted.