The High Court in Belfast has ruled that the case can go ahead after rejecting arguments by the social media giant that the company always removed the picture when notified and that a European directive provides protection from having to monitor a vast amount of online material for what is posted on one page.

The girl is taking legal action against Facebook and the man alleged to have posted the photo in what is believed to be the first case of its kind in the world.

The case will now advance to full trial at a later date.

The girl’s photograph was said to have been posted on a so-called “shame” page on Facebook several times between November 2014 and January 2016.

The teenager’s lawyer likened the ordeal to child abuse and argued that Facebook had the power to block any republication.