HBL -v- Secretary of State for Defence (anonymity order)

Administrative CourtHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Claim number: AC-2026-LON-001066

In the High Court of Justice
King’s Bench Division
Administrative Court

12 March 2026

Before:

The Honourable Mr Justice Murray

Between:

THE KING on the application of
HBL

-v-

Secretary of State for Defence

and

(1) HDL

(2) HDG

(3) HLI

(4) HHL

(5) HLL

(6) HXX
(Interested Parties)

Order

On an application by the Claimant for anonymity, disclosure, and expedition

Following consideration of the documents lodged by the Claimant

ORDER by the Honourable Mr Justice Murray

1.       The names of the Claimant and the Interested Parties are to be withheld from the public and must not be disclosed in any proceedings in public.

 2.      The Claimant and the Interested Parties are to be referred to orally and in writing by the following ciphers assigned by the Administrative Court Office:

(a)      The Claimant: HBL

(b)      The First Interested Party: HDL

(c)      The Second Interested Party:  HDG

(d)      The Third Interested Party:  HLI

(e)      The Fourth Interested Party:  HHL

(f)       The Fifth Interested Party:   HLL

(g)      The Sixth Interested Party:   HXX

 3.      Pursuant to section 11 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981, there must be no publication of the identity of the Claimant or any of the Interested Parties or of any matter likely to lead to the identification of the Claimant or any of the Interested Parties, in any report of, or otherwise in connection with, these proceedings.

 4.      Expedition is granted.

 5.      The claim is placed before a Judge forthwith after the expiry of the deadline for the service of the Acknowledgement of Service in CPR r 54.8(2)(a) in order for a decision on permission to be issued within 7 days of that deadline.

 6.      Should permission be granted, the Claimant has liberty to seek further expedited case management directions from the Court, including of the substantive hearing.

  7.     Costs reserved.

Reasons

1.       Having reviewed the factual background, I am satisfied that it is necessary to prohibit the publication of the name of the Claimant or of any of the Interested Parties in order to protect the interests of the Claimant and each of the Interested Parties, having regard to their human rights.

2.       The Claimant proposed their own ciphers in their submissions, but under current ACO practice the ciphers are assigned from a central register by the ACO.

3.       In light of the factual background, expedition is clearly warranted in this case.