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

Administrative CourtHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Claim number: AC-2023-LON-002962

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

22 July 2024

Before:

Mr Justice Sheldon

Between:

R (on the application of MW)

-v-

Secretary of State for Defence

and

EA
HW
(Interested parties)

Order

UPON THE COURT reading the Claimant’s N244s, and the Amended Claim Form.

IT IS ORDERED THAT:
1. The Defendant is granted until 15 November 2023 to respond to the Claimant’s pre-action protocol letter dated 2023.
2. The Claimant is granted until 6 December 2023 to file amended grounds of claim responding to the Defendant’s correspondence.
3. The Defendant is granted until 10 January 2024 to provide its Acknowledgment of Service and Summary Grounds of Defence.
4. The application for the anonymity for the Claimant and the Interested Parties is granted and there shall be substituted for all purposes in this claim, in place of reference to the Claimant and the Interested Parties, by name, and whether orally or in writing, referenced to the letters “MW”, “EA”, “HW” respectively.
5. The Court file is to be retained by the Court and marked “Anonymized”. Pursuant to CPR 5.4C, a person who is not a party to these proceedings may obtain a copy of the pleadings, a Judgment or Order from the court records only if the pleadings, Judgment or Order has been anonymized such that the Claimant and the Interested parties are referred to as “MW”, “EA”, “HW” respectively in those documents and any address has been removed.
6. Costs reserved.

Reasons

  1. The Claimant sought an extension of time to file amended grounds of claim so that a response to a pre-action protocol could be made. I grant this retrospectively.
  2. The Claimant also seeks anonymity for himself, his wife and daughter. The claim is based on the Claimant’s involvement as an interpreter and military liaison in Afghanistan. He has concerns about his safety. It seems to me reasonable and appropriate that, pending consideration of this claim, anonymity is granted to the parties so as to safeguard their health and wellbeing.