SC -v- Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (anonymity order)

High CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

AMENDED
Case No: KB-2023-MAN-000121

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE
KING’S BENCH DIVISION
MANCHESTER DISTRICT REGISTRY

26 March 2026

BEFORE:

HHJ Sephton KC

Between:

SC (Widow and Administratrix of the estate of SE deceased)

-v-

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Order

WARNING: you must comply with the terms imposed upon you by this Order: otherwise, your case is liable to be struck out, or some other sanction imposed. If you cannot comply you are expected to make a formal application to the Court before any deadline imposed upon you expires.  

BEFORE HHJ Sephton KC sitting as a Judge of the High Court at the Manchester District Registry in the Manchester Civil Justice Centre on 26th March 2026

UPON HEARING Ms Sally Hatfield one of His Majesty’s Counsel for the Claimant, and Ms Chloe Baron, Solicitor for the Defendant

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 Claimant and the deceased’s dependants to respect for private and family life and the risk of harm that identification may cause to the the Claimant and the deceased’s dependants

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

AND UPON THE COURT CONCLUDING that non-disclosure of the identity of the Claimant and the deceased’s dependants is necessary to secure the proper administration of justice and in order to protect their interests

AND UPON THE COURT FURTHER CONCLUDING that it is necessary to make a reporting restriction order

IT IS ORDERED that

  1. The names the Claimant and the deceased’s dependants are to be withheld in the statements of case, and in any judgments and orders in this claim, and for those purposes:
    i) The Claimant shall be referred to as “SC”;
    ii) The Deceased shall be referred to as “SE”;
    iii) The Dependants shall be referred to as “SJ” “SA” and “SR”.
  2. The Claimant’s address on the claim form shall be substituted by the Claimant’s solicitor’s address.
  3. 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 or address of the Claimant;
    b) The name or address of the Deceased;
    c) The name or address of the Dependants;
    d) Any particulars likely to lead to the identification of the Claimant, the Deceased and/or the Dependants;
    e) Any image or likeness of the Claimant, the Deceased or the Dependants.
  4. Any reports or other communications to the public which exist prior to the date of this order are not affected by this order.
  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 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 4pm on 16 April 2026.
  7. The Court file shall be clearly marked with the words “An anonymity order was made in this case on 26 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.”
  8. 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.
  9. This order shall lapse automatically in relation to any person for whose benefit the order is made on the death of that person and its provisions shall have no effect as regards that person from that time. 
  10. 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.