F v Cumbria County Council & Anor (No 6) (Publicity)

F v Cumbria County Council & Anor (No 6) (Publicity)

The court determined that the main part of the 2014 judgment should be published at the start of the further hearing, with reporting restrictions maintained to protect the identities of the children and mother. Accredited media may attend and report daily, subject to restrictions, as the public interest in openness outweighs potential harm to the children. The medical evidence will be published as part of the narrative, and the court retains power to direct reporting if issues arise.

Parties
Father: F; Applicant: Cumbria County Council; Mother: M; Respondents: The Children (by their Children’s Guardian); Media Interveners: Associated Newspapers Ltd, The BBC, CN Group, Guardian News and Media Ltd, Independent Print Ltd, the Press Association, Telegraph Media Group and Times Newspapers Ltd
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
06 November 2015
Procedural Posture
Family / Interlocutory Judgment on Publicity and Reporting Restrictions
Outcome
Application for publication and media access granted with reporting restrictions maintained.
Legal Topics
Reporting Restrictions, Publicity in Family Proceedings, Children's Welfare, Open Justice, Media Access
Family Law Media Law Child Protection Reporting Restrictions Publicity in Family Proceedings Children's Welfare Open Justice Media Access

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Parties

F

Father

Cumbria County Council

Applicant

M

Mother

The Children (by their Children’s Guardian)

Respondents

Associated Newspapers Ltd, The BBC, CN Group, Guardian News and Media Ltd, Independent Print Ltd, the Press Association, Telegraph Media Group and Times Newspapers Ltd

Media Interveners

Procedural Posture

Family / Interlocutory Judgment on Publicity and Reporting Restrictions

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether to publish the 2014 fact-finding judgment
  2. 2 Whether to vary reporting restriction orders
  3. 3 Whether to permit daily media reporting

Ratio Decidendi

The court determined that the main part of the 2014 judgment should be published at the start of the further hearing, with reporting restrictions maintained to protect the identities of the children and mother. Accredited media may attend and report daily, subject to restrictions, as the public interest in openness outweighs potential harm to the children. The medical evidence will be published as part of the narrative, and the court retains power to direct reporting if issues arise.

Court Disposition

Application for publication and media access granted with reporting restrictions maintained.

Orders

  • Main part of the 2014 judgment to be published at the start of the further hearing.
  • Reporting restriction order remains in effect prohibiting identification of mother and surviving children.