SDK -v- WQR (anonymity order)

High CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

CLAIM NO: KB-2024-003389

In the High Court of Justice
King’s Bench Division

20 February 2025

Before:

Master Sullivan

Between:

SDK

-v-

WQR

Order

BEFORE MASTER SULLIVAN sitting at the Royal Courts of Justice via MS Teams on Monday 10 February 2025.

UPON hearing counsel for the Claimant and counsel for the Defendant, and Miss. Hassall for the BBC.

UPON Master Sullivan reading the Defendant’s application dated 6 December 2024 and:
(1) Consideration of the Article 8 rights of the Defendant to respect for private and family life, and the Article 10 right to freedom of expression.
(2) It appearing that non-disclosure of the identity of the Defendant is necessary to secure the proper administration of justice and in order to protect the interests of the Defendant and that there is no sufficient countervailing public interest in disclosure.

AND PURSUANT to section 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998 and CPR rules 5.4C, 5.4D and 39.2 (4).

IT IS ORDERED:

  1. Paragraphs 1 and 2 and 3 (ii) of the Order of Master Sullivan dated 30 October 2024 be varied so as to include reference to the Defendant in addition to the existing reference to the Claimant.
  2. Paragraph 3 (i) of the same Order be varied so as to include the additional sentence, “The Defendant shall be referred to as “WQR”.
  3. Paragraphs 4 (ii) and 7 of the same Order be varied so as to include reference to the Defendant’s solicitor in addition to the existing reference to the Claimant’s solicitor.
  4. Paragraph 6 of the same Order be varied as follows – “The Court file shall be clearly marked with the words “An anonymity Order was made in this case on 30October 2024 and was varied and extended by a further Order made on 10 February 2025 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 both those Orders.”
  5. The Order of 30 October 2024 as published on the Judicial Website of the High Court of Justice (www.judiciary.uk) be removed and replaced with a new Order reflecting the variations as ordered above. For that purpose, a court officer will send a new copy of the Order as so varied by email to the Judicial Office at judicialwebupdates@judiciary.uk
  6. The Defendant do pay the Claimant’s costs of the hearing of 30 January 2025, which are summarily assessed in the sum of £4,000, including VAT.
  7. Otherwise, costs in the case.