EDY and others -v- Secretary of State for Defence (anonymity order)
Administrative CourtHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order
Claim number: AC-2025-LON-002931
In the High Court of Justice
King’s Bench Division
Administrative Court
7 January 2026
Before:
Mr Justice Johnson
Between:
THE KING
on the application of
(1) EDY
(2) EDW
(3) EFL
(4) EGF
-v-
Secretary of State for Defence
and
HDA
(Interested party)
Order
On an application by the claimants for permission to claim judicial review
Following consideration of the documents lodged by the claimants and the defendant
ORDER by Mr Justice Johnson
1. The claimants shall hereinafter be referred to in these proceedings as EDY, EDW, EFL and EGF (“the ciphers”).
2. The claimants names are to be withheld from the public and must not to be disclosed in any proceedings in open court.
3. There is to be substituted for all purposes in these proceedings in place of references to the claimants by name, and whether orally or in writing, references to the ciphers.
4. Pursuant to s.11 Contempt of Court Act 1981, there must be no publication of the identity of the claimants or of any matter likely to lead to the identification of the claimants in any report of, or otherwise in connection with, these proceedings.
5. Pursuant to CPR 5.4C(4):
(a) The parties must, when filing any statement of case, also file a redacted copy of that statement of case omitting the name, address and any other information which could lead to the identification of the claimants.
(b) Unless the Court grants permission under CPR 5.4(C)(6), no non-party may obtain an unredacted copy of any statement of case.
6. The defendant shall, by 4pm on 23 January 2026, either:
(a) File an application under section 6 of the Justice and Security Act 2013, or
(b) Confirm that no such application will be made and that the defendant has complied with his duty of candour.
7. In the event that the defendant files an application pursuant to paragraph 6(a) above, that application will be listed for hearing, and the application for permission to claim judicial review will be considered at that hearing.
8. In the event that the defendant does not file an application pursuant to paragraph 6(a) above, the application for permission to claim judicial review will be referred to a judge on or as soon as is practicable after 26 January 2026.
Reasons
The defendant has indicated that he has not yet complied with his duty of candour. It was indicated in the summary grounds that an application under section 6 of the 2013 Act was being considered, but no application has been forthcoming. I do not consider that the application for permission to claim judicial review should be determined until the position is clarified. I have made directions accordingly. The further delay is regrettable, but it is unavoidable.