Hannah Summers & Anor v Kristopher Paul Arthur White & Ors

Hannah Summers & Anor v Kristopher Paul Arthur White & Ors

The public interest in identifying the father, given his established pattern of abusive behaviour and criminal convictions, outweighs his and the child's Article 8 rights. Publication is necessary, proportionate, and in accordance with the law. The mother and child remain protected by confidentiality rules.

Parties
1st Applicant: Hannah Summers; 2nd Applicant: The Bureau of Investigative Journalism; 1st Respondent: Suzanne Martin; 2nd Respondent: Kristoffer Paul Arthur White; 3rd Respondent: The mother; Subject Child: X (the child)
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
17 July 2024
Procedural Posture
Family Court Application / Judgment on Application for Publication of Respondent's Identity
Outcome
Applications granted
Legal Topics
Anonymity in Family Proceedings, Publication of Party Names, Balancing Article 8 and Article 10 ECHR Rights, Child Welfare in Publicity Applications
Family Law Media Law Human Rights Anonymity in Family Proceedings Publication of Party Names Balancing Article 8 and Article 10 ECHR Rights Child Welfare in Publicity Applications

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Parties

Hannah Summers

1st Applicant

The Bureau of Investigative Journalism

2nd Applicant

Suzanne Martin

1st Respondent

Kristoffer Paul Arthur White

2nd Respondent

The mother

3rd Respondent

X (the child)

Subject Child

Procedural Posture

Family Court Application / Judgment on Application for Publication of Respondent's Identity

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether public interest outweighs anonymity rules to permit publication of the father's name and his previous armed forces service
  2. 2 Whether such publication is necessary and proportionate under the law

Ratio Decidendi

The public interest in identifying the father, given his established pattern of abusive behaviour and criminal convictions, outweighs his and the child's Article 8 rights. Publication is necessary, proportionate, and in accordance with the law. The mother and child remain protected by confidentiality rules.

Court Disposition

Applications granted

Orders

  • Permission granted to publish the full name of Kristoffer Paul Arthur White and his previous armed forces service.
  • Confidentiality rules continue to apply to the mother and the child.