MHK -v- Lancashire County Council (anonymity order)
Claim number: N00ZP195
In the County Court at Burnley
11 May 2026
Before:
Deputy District Judge Darlington
Between:
(1) MHK
(a child, by his litigation friend, MUL)
(2) MUK
(a child, by his litigation friend, MUL)
(Claimants)
-v-
Lancashire County Council Legal Services
Order
Before Deputy District Judge Darlington sitting at the County Court at Burnley, The Law Courts, Hammerton Street, Burnley, Lancashire, BB11 1XD.
Upon hearing the Solicitor for the Claimants
And 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 Claimant to respect for private and family life and the risk of harm that identification may cause to the Frist and Second Claimant
And upon the Court concluding that non-disclosure of the First and Second Claimant’s identity is necessary to secure the proper administration of justice and in order to protect the First and Second Claimant’s interests
And upon the Court further concluding that it is necessary to make a reporting restriction order
IT IS ORDERED THAT
- The names of the First and Second Claimant are to be withheld in the statements of case and in any judgment and orders in this claim, and for those purposes
(i) The First Claimant shall be referred to as MHK
(ii) The Second Claimant shall be referred to as MUK
(iii) The Claimant’s parent shall be referred to as MUL
- The Claimant’s address on the Claim Form shall be substituted by the First and Second Claimant’s Solicitors address
- 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 and address of the First and Second Claimant
(b) The name and address of the First and Second Claimant’s parents
(c) Any particulars likely to lead to the identification of the First and Second Claimant or First and Second Claimant’s parents
(d) Any image or likeness of the First and Second Claimant
- Any reports or other communications to the public which exist prior to the date of this order are not affected by this order
- 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 the statement of case, judgment order from the Court’s records unless the statement of case, judgment or order has been anonymised in accordance with subparagraphs 1 (and 2) 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 Claimant’s Solicitor, trustee or deputy unless the Court orders otherwise - The Claimant’s Solicitor shall file with the Court copies of any existing statements of case anonymised in accordance with paragraph 1 and 2 above by 21 days from the date of this order
- The Court file shall be clearly marked with the words “An anonymity order was made in this case on 27 April 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
- Any interest 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 Claimant’s Solicitor, trustee or deputy
- This order shall lapse automatically on the death of the First and Second Claimant and its provisions shall have no effect from that time
- 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.
Dated 27 April 2026