ABC -v- Pine Ridge Housing Association (anonymity order)
Claim number: J00WD118
In the County Court at Luton
22 May 2025
Before:
His Honour Judge Murch
Between:
ABC
-v-
Pine Ridge Housing Association
Anonymity order
Before His Honour Judge Murch sitting at the County Court at Luton, 4th Floor, Arndale House, Luton Point, Luton, LU1 2EN.
UPON hearing counsel for the claimant (Ms Conlon) and counsel for the defendant (Mr Lee) at a hearing conducted by CVP on 15 May 2025
AND UPON:
(1) Review of the Defendant’s application dated 2 May 2025.
(2) Consideration of the rights, of the Defendant, the witnesses and others, under the European Convention on Human Rights (‘ECHR’), in particular the Defendant’s rights to respect for their private and family life under article 8, and the right to freedom of expression under article 10.
(3) It appearing that non-disclosure of the identity of the Defendant is necessary to protect the interests of the Defendant pending trial, in particular given their lack of capacity, and that there is no sufficient countervailing public interest in disclosure.
(4) The evidence against the Defendant as yet being untested.
(5) There being no representations from the press or any other interested party.
AND PURSUANT to section 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998; section 11 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981; and CPR rules 5.4C, 5.4D and 39.2(4).
IT IS ORDERED THAT:
- The identity of the Defendant as party to these proceedings shall not be published.
- Pursuant to CPR 39.2(4), there shall not be disclosed in any publication the name or address of the Defendant, the identity of the Defendant’s immediate family members, or any other details that are likely to lead to the identification of the Defendant as party to these proceedings. The Defendant shall be referred to as set out below at paragraph 3 of this Order.
- In any judgment or report of these proceedings, or other publication (by whatever medium) in relation thereto:
(i) The Defendant shall be referred to as “ABC”.
(ii) Any other details which, on their own or together with other information publicly available, is likely to lead to the identification of the Defendant (including any names of other immediate family members or their addresses) shall be redacted before publication.
- Pursuant to CPR Rules 5.4C and 5.4D:
(i) 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(i) to (iii) above.
(ii) Any application pursuant to CPR r.5.4C(1B) or (2) by a non-party to the proceedings for permission to inspect or obtain a copy of any other document or communication, shall be made on at least 7 days’ notice to the relevant Defendant’s solicitor.
- The Defendant shall, by 29 May 2025, re-file the Statements of Case in this case, anonymised in accordance with paragraph 3 above
- The Court file shall be clearly marked with the words “An anonymity order was made in this case on 15 May 2025 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.”
- 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 each party’s solicitors.
- Pursuant to the ‘Practice Guidance: Publication of Privacy and Anonymity Orders’ issued by the Master of the Rolls dated 16 April 2019 a copy of this Order shall be published on the Judicial Website of the High Court of Justice (www.judiciary.uk) . For that purpose, a court officer will send a copy of the order by email to the Judicial Office at judicialwebupdates@judiciary.net.
- This Order shall remain in force until final hearing or further order, such continuation to be reviewed upon final determination of this case.
- Costs in the case.
Dated 15 May 2025