MRY -v- Ashford Borough Council (anonymity order)

Administrative CourtHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Claim number: AC-2026-LON-003400

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

22 July 2026

Before:

The Hon. Mrs Justice Ellenbogen DBE

Between:

THE KING on the application of
MRY

-v-

Ashford Borough Council

Order

On an application by the Claimant, dated 21 July 2026, for urgent interim relief and for an order granting anonymity

Following consideration of the documents lodged by the Claimant

ORDER by The Hon. Mrs Justice Ellenbogen DBE

    1. The identities of the Claimant, his wife and child in these proceedings shall not be published.
    1. Pursuant to CPR Rule 39.2(4), there shall not be disclosed in any report of these proceedings, or other publication (by whatever medium) in relation to these proceedings, the name or address of the Claimant, his wife or child, or any other matters which could lead to the identification of any of them.
    2. In any report of these proceedings, or other publication (by whatever medium) in relation to these proceedings, the Claimant shall be referred to as “MRY”, his wife as “MAY”, and his child as “MEN”, and any matters which could lead to the identification of any of them shall be redacted.
    3. Pursuant to CPR Rule 5.4C:
      (a) a person who is not a party to the proceedings may obtain a copy of a claim form, judgment or order from the court records only if the same has been anonymised and redacted in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Order;
      (b) if a person who is not a party to the proceedings applies for permission to obtain a copy of any other document or communication, such application shall be made on at least 7 days’ written notice to the Claimant’s solicitors;
      (c) any interested party, whether or not a party to the proceedings, may apply to the Court to vary or revoke paragraphs 1 to 4(b) of this Order, provided that any such application is made on written notice to the Claimant’s solicitors and that no fewer than 3 days’ prior written notice of the intention to make such an application is given.
    4. This Order shall be published on the website of the Judiciary of England and Wales pursuant to CPR r.39.2(5)
    5. With immediate effect and until further order of the court, the Defendant is to provide temporary accommodation for the Claimant, his wife and child.
    6. By 4:00pm on Friday 24 July 2026, the Defendant shall file and serve a response to the Claimant’s application for urgent interim relief.
    7. By 4:00pm on Tuesday 28 July 2026, the Claimant may file and serve any reply to the Defendant’s response.
    8. By no later than midday on Wednesday 29 July 2026, the file shall be restored to a judge of the Administrative Court for consideration of all then appropriate orders and/or directions, which may include the listing of a hearing on short notice to the parties.
    9. Costs reserved.

    Reasons

    1. This application is before me as ‘immediates’ judge.
    2. By his claim for judicial review, the Claimant seeks to challenge the following decisions of the Defendant: (a) on 15 July 2026, to terminate their entitlement to remain in the interim accommodation in which they were then living; (b) on 16 July 2026, to refuse to secure accommodation pending review under s188(3) of the Housing Act 1996; and (c) to give 43 hours’ notice of eviction. Since then, the Claimant and his family have been living with his brother, who has informed them that they must leave by 18:00 today, following which, it is said, they will be street homeless. It is further said that the Claimant’s brother has previously ‘evicted’ them following his landlord’s objection to overcrowding.
    3. On the material with which the court has been provided to date, there is a real issue to be tried. The court would be assisted by the Defendant’s response to the application, and, in particular having regard to the welfare of the Claimant’s two-year old child, the balance of convenience favours the order made at paragraph 6 above pending receipt of that response; any reply to it; and the court’s consideration of the appropriate way forward.
      Anonymity
    4. Non-disclosure of the Claimant’s identity is necessary for the protection of his very young son’s interests. The potentially competing rights to freedom of expression and a fair trial (the principle of open justice) are protected by the liberty to apply provision made by paragraph 4 of the above orders, in which the reference to ‘any interested party’ would encompass representatives of the Press and other media.