DFM and another -v- Paul Munday (anonymity order)

High CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

  Claim No. KB-2025-003000

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE                    
KING’S BENCH DIVISION

25 March 2026

Before:

Master Eastman

Between:

1. DFM (a protected party by his litigation friend APL)

2. GTX (a child by her litigation friend BWQ)

-v-

Paul Munday

Order

Before Master Eastman sitting in High Court of Justice

UPON hearing Counsel for the Claimant and Counsel for the Defendant

AND UPON reading the Application Notice dated 03 March 2026 filed on behalf of the First and Second Claimants:

UPON CONSIDERING the protective nature of the approval jurisdiction pursuant to r.21.10 of the Civil Procedure Rules 1998

AND UPON CONSIDERING the Article 8 rights of the ~First and Second Claimants to respect for private and family life and the risk of harm that identification may cause to the First and Second Claimants

AND UPON CONSIDERING the importance of open justice and the Article 10 right to freedom of expression

AND UPON THE COURT CONCLUDING that non-disclosure of the First and Second Claimants’ identities is necessary to secure the proper administration of justice and in order to protect the First and Second Claimants’ interests

AND UPON THE COURT FURTHER CONCLUDING that it is necessary to make a reporting restriction order

IT IS ORDERED that

  1. The names of the First Claimant and the Litigation Friend acting on behalf of the First Claimant are to be withheld in the statements of case, and in any judgments and orders in this claim, and for those purposes:
    i) The First Claimant shall be referred to as “DFM”;
    ii) The Litigation Friend for the First Claimant shall be referred to as “APL”.
  1. The names of the Second Claimant and the Litigation Friend acting on behalf of the Second Claimant are to be withheld in the statements of case, and in any judgments and orders in this claim, and for those purposes:
    iii) The Second Claimant shall be referred to as “GTX”;
    iv) The Litigation Friend for the Second Claimant shall be referred to as “BWQ”.
  1. The First Claimant’s address on the claim form shall be substituted by their solicitor’s address: Irwin Mitchell LLP, 15th Floor Brunel House, 2 Fitzalan Road, Cardiff, CF24 0EB.
  1. The Second Claimant’s address on the claim form shall be substituted by their solicitor’s address: Irwin Mitchell LLP, 15th Floor Brunel House, 2 Fitzalan Road, Cardiff, CF24 0EB.
  1. No report, whether oral or in writing, or other communication in whatever form (including internet or social media) addressed to the public at large or any section of the public, of or concerning this claim which is published from the date of this order may include:
    a) The name or address or any other specific feature of the First Claimant;
    b) The name or address of the Litigation Friend of the First Claimant;
    c) Any particulars likely to lead to the identification of the First Claimant or their Litigation Friend.
    d) Any image or likeness of the First Claimant or their Litigation Friend.
  1. No report, whether oral or in writing, or other communication in whatever form (including internet or social media) addressed to the public at large or any section of the public, of or concerning this claim which is published from the date of this order may include:
    a) The name or address or school or any other specific feature of the Second Claimant;
    b) The name or address of the Litigation Friend of the Second Claimant;
    c) Any particulars likely to lead to the identification of the Second Claimant or their Litigation Friend.
    d) Any image or likeness of the Second Claimant or their Litigation Friend.
  1. Any reports or other communications to the public which exist prior to the date of this order are not affected by this order.
  1. 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 anonymized in accordance with paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 4 above.
    ii) If a person who is not a party to the proceedings applies (pursuant to CPR r.5.4C(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 First and/or Second Claimant’s solicitor, trustee or deputy unless the court orders otherwise.
  1. The First and Second Claimant’s solicitor shall file with the Court copies of any existing statements of case anonymized in accordance with paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 4 above by 31 March February 2026.
  1. The Court file shall be clearly marked with the words “An anonymity order was made in this case on 25 March 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.”
  1. Any interested party, whether or not a party to the proceedings, may apply to the Court to vary or set aside this Order, provided that any such application is made on 7 days notice to the First and/or Second Claimant’s solicitor, trustee or deputy.
  1. This order shall lapse automatically on the death of either the First Claimant or the Second Claimant, whichever occurs later, and its provisions shall have no effect from that time. 
  1. Pursuant CPR 39.2(5) a copy of this Order shall be published on the website of the Judiciary of England and Wales (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.uk.
  1. The costs of obtaining this Order be costs in the case