AB -v- Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (anonymity order)

High CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Claim number: KB-2026-MAN-000060

In the High Court of Justice
King’s Bench Division
Manchester District Registry

Clinical Negligence

5 August 2026

Before:

District Judge Moss

Between:

AB
(a child, by his Litigation Friend and mother, CD)
(Claimant)

-v-

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
(Defendant)

Anonymity order

WARNING: you must comply with the terms imposed upon you by this Order: otherwise, your case is liable to be struck out, or some other sanction imposed. If you cannot comply you are expected to make a formal application to the Court before any deadline imposed upon you expires.

BEFORE District Judge Moss sitting at the Manchester Civil Justice Centre on Wednesday 5 August 2026 by telephone.

UPON hearing from counsel for the Claimant, Sam Aynsley, and counsel for the Defendant, Henry Bankes-Jones.

AND UPON the Court making this anonymity order separately to the other orders sought in the Claimant’s application.

AND UPON the Court noting:

(1) The Article 8 rights of AB and his family to respect for private and family life, and the Article 10 right to freedom of expression.
(2) It appearing that non-disclosure of the identity of the Claimant is necessary to secure the proper administration of justice and in order to protect the interests of AB and his family and that there is no sufficient countervailing public interest in disclosure.
(3) The Defendant indicating its neutrality to the making of the order and there being no representations from the press or any other interested party.

AND PURSUANT to s.6 of the Human Rights Act 1998; s.11 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981; and CPR 5.4C, 5.4D and 39.2(4).

WHEREAS for the purposes of this order:

(1) ‘Publication’ includes any speech, writing, broadcast, or other communication in whatever form (including internet and social media), which is addressed to the public at large or any section of the public
(2) Publication for the purpose of this Order includes any further publication (as defined in subparagraph (1) above) from the date of this Order, even if such information has derived from a previous stage or stages of these proceedings

AND UPON the Defendant adopting a neutral stance to the application for an anonymity order.

IT IS ORDERED THAT:

  1. The identity of the Claimant as a party to these proceedings is confidential and shall not be published.
  2. Pursuant to CPR 39.2(4), there shall not be disclosed in any report of these proceedings or other publication the name or address of the Claimant, the Claimant’s Litigation Friend or other immediate family members, or any details (including other names, addresses, or a specific combination of facts) that could lead to the identification of AB as the Claimant in these proceedings. The Claimant and the Litigation Friend shall be referred to as set out at paragraph 3 of this Order.
  3. In any judgment or report of these proceedings, or other publication (by whatever medium) in relation thereto:
    (a) The Claimant shall be referred to as “AB”.
    (b) The Litigation Friend shall be referred to as “CD”.
    (c) The Claimant’s father as “CF”.
    (d) The Claimant’s younger sister as “CS”.
    (e) Any other details which, on their own or together with other information publicly available, may lead to the identification of the Claimant (including any names of other immediate family members or their addresses) shall be redacted before publication.
  4. The Claimant shall file a confidential schedule of the unredacted names and addresses of “AB”, “CD”, “CF”, and “CS” by 4pm on 12 August 2026, which shall be retained on the Court file.
  5. Pursuant to CPR 5.4C and 5.4D:
    (a) A person who is not a party to the proceedings may not obtain a copy of a statement of case, judgment or order from the Court records unless the statement of case, judgment or order has been anonymised in accordance with subparagraphs 3(a) to (e) above.
    (b) If a person who is not a party to the proceedings applies (pursuant to CPR 5.4C(1B) or (2)) for permission to inspect or obtain a copy of any other document or communication, such application shall be on at least 7 days’ notice to the Claimant’s solicitor, trustee or deputy.
  6. The Court file shall be clearly marked with the words “An anonymity order was made in this case on 5 August 2026 and any application by a non-party to inspect or obtain a copy document from this file must be dealt with in accordance with the terms of that Order.”
  7. Any interested party, whether or not a party to the proceedings, may apply to the Court to vary or discharge this Order, provided that any such application is made on 7 days’ notice to the Claimant’s solicitor, trustee or deputy.
  8. Costs in the case.

Dated this 5th day of August 2026
Order approved by DJ Moss on 12 August 2026