AB and others -v- Alder Hey Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (anonymity order)

County CourtAnonymity Order

Claim number: N00LV382

In the County Court at Liverpool

17 August 2026

Before:

Deputy District Judge McMullan

Between:

(1) AB
(2) CB
(3) EF
(Claimants)

-v-

Alder Hey Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
(Defendant)

Order

Before Deputy District Judge McMullan sitting at the County Court at Liverpool, Liverpool, Civil And Family Courts, 35 Vernon Street, Liverpool, L2 2BX.

Upon hearing from counsel for the claimants and counsel for the defendant

And upon the Court having considered the Application and Witness Statement on behalf of the Claimants, seeking anonymity for the claimants, defendant, maternal grandmother and local authority referred to in the court papers (hereon in referred to as “the local authority”).

And upon the defendant remaining neutral as to the application, including in relation to anonymity of itself within these proceedings.

And upon the local authority not having notice of this application and today’s hearing.

And upon the Court being satisfied that an Order for anonymity is necessary to make this Order pursuant to CPR39.2(4) to protect the Claimants and their right to privacy under Article 8 ECHR, and that it is necessary for the proper administration of justice.

IT IS ORDERED THAT

  1. Pursuant to CPR 17.1.(2)(b) and CPR 39.2(4) it is ordered that the Claimants may amend their Particulars of Claim and any documents filed to date with the Court so that the identity of the Claimants and the maternal grandmother shall not be disclosed. Such amended particulars of claim to be filed and served by 4pm on 30.08.2026.
  2. The identity of the Claimants, and the maternal grandmother shall not be disclosed within any documents filed for the remainder of these proceedings, or until further order of the Court.
  3. Pursuant to CPR 39.2(4), the Claimants and the maternal grandmother shall be referred to in all statements of case and other documents to be served or filed in the proceedings and in any judgment or order as AB, CD, EF and GH,
  4. There shall be no publication in any newspaper, or other media, or on the internet of any name, address, picture or any other information likely to lead to the identification of the Claimants, or maternal grandmother as being the persons involved in these proceedings. This includes, but is not limited to, the Claimants’ current or former addresses or place of work.
  5. The court file shall be clearly marked with the words: “An Anonymity Order is in Force in the Case”.
  6. Pursuant to CPR5.4C and 5.4D, a person who is not a party to the proceedings may not obtain a copy of any document from the court file unless the document has been anonymised in accordance with this Order.
  7. Any person seeking an unredacted document must apply to the Court on notice to the parties.
  8. Pursuant to the Practice Direction: Publication of Privacy and Anonymity Orders, a copy of this Order shall be published on the website of the Judiciary of England and Wales.
  9. For the purposes of such publication, the Court shall provide a redacted version of this Order which omits any information that might identify the Claimants.
  10. The claimants’ application for anonymity of the defendant and the local authority is dismissed.
  11. The claimants’ solicitor shall serve a copy of this order on the local authority referred to in the papers immediately upon service of said order.
  12. The said local authority has liberty to apply to vary or discharge paragraph 10 of this order by 4pm on 30.07.2026.
  13. Any non-party affected by this Order shall have liberty to apply to vary or discharge this Order.
  14. No order as to costs.

Dated 16 July 2026