A Local Authority v A Mother & Ors [2025] EWHC 3498 (Fam) (02 December 2025)

A Local Authority v A Mother & Ors [2025] EWHC 3498 (Fam) (02 December 2025)

The public interest in transparency, scrutiny of public bodies, and reporting on the handling of FII allegations in the family justice system outweighs the limited risk of jigsaw identification or harm to the child’s privacy. Naming the Trust and referring to treatment via lines is proportionate and justified under Article 10 ECHR, with appropriate safeguards to protect the child's anonymity.

Citation
[2025] EWHC 3498 (Fam)
Parties
Applicant: A Local Authority; 1st Respondent: A Mother; 2nd Respondent: A Father; 3rd Respondent: A Child (Through their Children's Guardian); Intervener: The Sunday Times; Intervener: Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
02 December 2025
Procedural Posture
Care Proceedings / Transparency Order Application / Interlocutory Judgment on Transparency Order
Outcome
Application granted
Legal Topics
Transparency in Family Proceedings, Reporting Restrictions, Article 8 ECHR (right to Privacy), Article 10 ECHR (freedom of Expression), Care Proceedings, Fabricated or Induced Illness (fii), Open Justice
Family Law Media Law Human Rights Transparency in Family Proceedings Reporting Restrictions Article 8 ECHR (right to Privacy) Article 10 ECHR (freedom of Expression) Care Proceedings +2 more

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Parties

A Local Authority

Applicant

A Mother

1st Respondent

A Father

2nd Respondent

A Child (Through their Children's Guardian)

3rd Respondent

The Sunday Times

Intervener

Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust

Intervener

Procedural Posture

Care Proceedings / Transparency Order Application / Interlocutory Judgment on Transparency Order

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the Trust (hospital) should be named in reporting under a Transparency Order in care proceedings involving allegations of fabricated or induced illness (FII)
  2. 2 Whether reference to a specific form of treatment ('via lines') can be reported

Ratio Decidendi

The public interest in transparency, scrutiny of public bodies, and reporting on the handling of FII allegations in the family justice system outweighs the limited risk of jigsaw identification or harm to the child’s privacy. Naming the Trust and referring to treatment via lines is proportionate and justified under Article 10 ECHR, with appropriate safeguards to protect the child's anonymity.

Court Disposition

Application granted

Orders

  • The Trust (Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust) may be named in reporting under the Transparency Order.
  • Reference to treatment via lines is permitted in reporting.