A Local Authority v A Mother & Ors

A Local Authority v A Mother & Ors

The public interest in transparency and scrutiny of the Trust, given its involvement in FII guidelines and the scale of its operations, outweighs the limited risk of jigsaw identification or harm to the child’s privacy. The reporting will not include identifying details, and the child’s anonymity is preserved. Naming the Trust and referring to treatment via lines is proportionate and justified under Article 10 ECHR.

Parties
Applicant: A Local Authority; 1st Respondent: A Mother; 2nd Respondent: A Father; 3rd Respondent: A Child (Through their Children’s Guardian); Interested Party: The Sunday Times; Interested Party: Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
21 January 2026
Procedural Posture
Care Proceedings / Interlocutory Application for Transparency Order
Outcome
Application granted
Legal Topics
Transparency in Family Proceedings, Reporting Restrictions, Anonymity of Children, Freedom of Expression, Open Justice, Fabricated or Induced Illness (fii), Care Orders
Family Law Media Law Child Protection Transparency in Family Proceedings Reporting Restrictions Anonymity of Children Freedom of Expression Open Justice +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

Interested Party

Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust

Interested Party

Procedural Posture

Care Proceedings / Interlocutory Application for 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 the child's treatment 'via lines' should be permitted in reporting

Ratio Decidendi

The public interest in transparency and scrutiny of the Trust, given its involvement in FII guidelines and the scale of its operations, outweighs the limited risk of jigsaw identification or harm to the child’s privacy. The reporting will not include identifying details, and the child’s anonymity is preserved. Naming the Trust and referring to treatment via lines is proportionate and justified under Article 10 ECHR.

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 the child's treatment 'via lines' is permitted in reporting.