Ors and MAT -v- Kent County Council (anonymity order and privacy order)

High CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity OrderPrivacy Order

Claim number: QB-2013-000031,
formerly HQ13X04310

In the High Court of Justice
King’s Bench Division

16 March 2026

Before:

Master Stevens

Between:

Ors (MAT’s Siblings)
(Claimants 1-4)
MAT
((by his Litigation Friend the Official Solicitor)
(5th Claimant)

-v-

Kent County Council
(Defendant)

Anonymity order

BEFORE Master Stevens sitting in the High Court King’s Bench Division in the Royal Courts of Justice, on 16 March 2026

UPON HEARING Ms Round of counsel for the Defendant Kent County Council

AND UPON the Defendant’s application dated 6 January 2026 for permission to use documents disclosed within this case for purposes other than their use in this case for the benefit of the 5th Claimant

AND UPON CONSIDERING the Article 8 rights of the Claimants to respect for private and family life and the risk of harm that identification may cause to the Claimants and their families

AND UPON CONSIDERING the importance of open justice and the Article 10 right to freedom of expression

AND UPON THE COURT CONCLUDING the previous anonymity order made in this case to protect the identify of the Claimants, and that non-disclosure of the Claimants’ identities, and that of their families is necessary to secure the proper administration of justice and in order to protect the Claimants’ interests

AND UPON THE COURT FURTHER CONCLUDING that it is necessary to make an updated anonymity and reporting restriction order

IT IS ORDERED that

  1. The names of the Claimants and their families are to be withheld in the order made in this application:
    (i) The previous reporting restriction dated 15 December 2008 remains in force
    (ii) The 5th Claimant shall continue to be referred to as MAT
    (iii) Claimant’s 1-4 shall continue to be referred to as designated in the reporting restrictions order dated 15 December 2008, or as “Ors”
    (iv) The 5th Claimant’s adoptive parents shall be referred to as Mr and Mrs X
  2. 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 or this application within the claim which is published from the date of this order may include:
    (a) The names or addresses of the Claimants or their families;
    (b) Any particulars likely to lead to the identification of the Claimants or their families
    (c) Any image or likeness of the Claimants or their families
  3. Any reports or other communications to the public which exist prior to the date of this order are not affected by this order.
  4. The restriction on naming Claimant 5 does not extend to health or welfare care documents in which information derived from this case is recorded pursuant to the separate permission granted for limited disclosure and use of documents for specified purposes made of even date in private and such disclosure to be accompanied by this order provided that the redacted names and case number for this case are not there identified so as to link the information derived from the disclosed documents and this case.
  5. 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 a statement of case, judgment or order from the Court 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.
  6. The Court file shall be clearly marked with the words “An anonymity order was made in this case on 16 March 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.”
  7. Any interested 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.
  8. This order shall lapse automatically on the death of the Claimants or last surviving Claimant and its provisions shall have no effect from that time.
  9. 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 16 March 2026

Order

UPON a case management conference by MS Teams

AND UPON HEARING Kate Round Counsel for Defendant

IT IS ORDERED:

  1. This hearing shall be heard in private pursuant to CPR 39.2 because it involves confidential information, it is necessary to protect a child and it is in the interests of justice.
  2. A copy of this decision shall be published on the website of the judiciary of England Wales in accordance with CPR 39.2(5)
  3. Costs in the case.

Dated 16 March 2026