OMA -v- Home Secretary (anonymity order)

Administrative CourtHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Claim number: AC-2024-LON-001904

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

3 February 2026

Before:

Tim Smith

Between:

THE KING on the application of
OMA

-v-

SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT

Order

On an application by the Claimant seeking an order for anonymity in these proceedings

Following consideration of the documents lodged by the Claimant

ORDER BY TIM SMITH (SITTING AS A DEPUTY HIGH COURT JUDGE)

  1. Anonymity:
    (a) Pursuant to CPR 39.2(4), the Court’s inherent jurisdiction and s. 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998:
    (i) the Claimant’s name is to be withheld from the public and must not be disclosed in any proceedings in public; and
    (ii) there is to be substituted for all purposes in these proceedings, in place of references to the claimant by name, and whether orally or in writing, the letters “OMA”
    (b) Pursuant to s. 11 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981, there must be no publication of the identity of the Claimant or of any matter likely to lead to the identification of the Claimant in any report of, or otherwise in connection with, these proceedings.
    (c) Pursuant to CPR 5.4C(4):
    (i) the parties must, within 7 days, file a redacted copy of any statement of case they have filed, omitting the name, address and any other information likely to lead to the identification of the Claimant;
    (ii) if any statement of case subsequently filed includes information likely to lead to the identification of the Claimant, a redacted copy omitting that information must be filed at the same time;
    (iii) unless the Court grants permission under CPR 5.4C(6), no non-party may obtain a copy of any unredacted statement of case.
    (d) Any person wishing to vary or discharge this Order must make an application to the Court, served on each party.

    Reasons

    1. The claim to which this application relates has been withdrawn by consent. However, as the final recital in the amended Consent Order approved by Collins Rice J and sealed by the Court on 25th July 2024 makes clear, the withdrawal of the claim does not represent a judicial determination of the anonymity application. The application for anonymity therefore remains to be determined.
    2. The Claimant is an asylum seeker. I am satisfied there is evidence that naming the Claimant and/or members of their family will increase the risk they would face if returned to their country of origin.
    3. I have seen no suggestion that the Claimant’s application for an anonymity order is opposed by the Defendant. No other representations objecting to the grant of an order have been brought to my attention either.
    4. There are accordingly compelling reasons for the limited derogations from the principle of open justice which the grant of anonymity in this case entails. I am satisfied that the criteria set out in CPR 39.2(4) and in CPR 5.4C(4) are met in this case and that, having regard to all the factors in the case, it is in the interests of justice that anonymity be granted in the terms provided above.