The Court was wrong to phase out contact between a child and his mother inconsistently with the Local Authority’s plan. Citations: Times 19-Feb-1997, Gazette 05-Mar-1997, [1997] EWCA Civ 953 Statutes: Children Act 1989 34(2) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 05 November 2022; Ref: scu.141349
Waite LJ: ‘It is now well settled that the implacable hostility of a mother towards access or contact is a factor which is capable, according to the circumstances of each particular case, of supplying a cogent reason for departing from the general pronciple that a child should grow up in the knowledge of both his … Continue reading In Re D (a Minor) (Contact: Mother’s Hostility): CA 1993
The parties had lived together as a married couple. They had had a child together by artificial insemination. It was then revealed that Mr J was a woman. The parties split up, and Mr J applied for an order for contact with the child. Held: The appeal was dismissed. The HFEA Act required that to … Continue reading J v C and E (a Child) (Void Marriage: Status of Children): CA 15 May 2006
TL, the mother appealed against refusal of her application by the appellant for a residential parenting assessment pursuant to section 38(6) of the Children Act 1989. Judges: Sir Nicholas Wall P, Moore-Bick, Black LJJ Citations: [2011] EWCA Civ 812 Links: Bailii Statutes: Children Act 1989 38(6) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 16 September 2022; … Continue reading In re S (A Child); TL v London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, ED, S (by a Children’s Guardian): CA 15 Jul 2011
At the council’s independent, single-sex grammar schools there were more places available for boys than girls. Consequently the council were obliged to set a higher pass mark for girls than boys in the grammar school entrance examination. Held: The council, as local education authority, had discriminated against girls. Discrimination can take place when a woman … Continue reading Regina v Birmingham City Council ex parte Equal Opportunities Commission: HL 1989
The court considered an application for a residence order as between same sex parents where the child was born after artificial insemination. Judges: Thorpe, Tuckey, Arden LJJ Citations: [2005] EWCA Civ 462, [2005] 2 FLR 957, [2006] 1 FCR 436 Links: Bailii Statutes: Children Act 1989 4 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 24 July … Continue reading Re G (Children): CA 6 Apr 2005
The applicant sought a joint residence order, and for a declaration that the rules preventing such hearings being in public breached the requirement for a public hearing. Held: Both FPR 1991 rule 4.16(7) and section 97 are compatible with the fair trial provisions of Article 61) of the European Convention for the Protection of Human … Continue reading P v BW (Children Cases: Hearings in Public): FD 2003
Judges: King, Lindblom, Peter Jackson LJJ Citations: [2019] EWCA Civ 575, [2019] WLR(D) 208 Links: Bailii, WLRD Statutes: Children Act 1989 31(2) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 14 June 2022; Ref: scu.635638
The council had taken the applicant’s children into care alleging that the mother had harmed them. In the light of the subsequent cases casting doubt on such findings, the mother sought the return of her children. She applied now that the hearings be in public. Held: The applicant and her solicitors had already made significant … Continue reading Kent County Council v The Mother, The Father, B (By Her Children’s Guardian); Re B (A Child) (Disclosure): FD 19 Mar 2004
Balcombe LJ said: ‘But before concluding this judgment, I would like to make three general points. The first is that judges should be very reluctant to allow the implacable hostility of one parent (usually the parent who has a residence order in his or her favour) to deter them from making a contact order where … Continue reading In re J (a Minor) (Contact): CA 1994
Two children were born in Norway to a British mother (M) and Norwegian father (F). Having lived in Norway, M brought them to England to stay, but without F’s knowledge or consent. M replied to his application for their return that the children would be at risk if returned, alleging psychological abuse by F. She … Continue reading Re E (Children) (Abduction: Custody Appeal): SC 10 Jun 2011
Appeal from settlement of property order made in favour of two of the parties’ children. Lady Justice King, Lord Justice Moylan, And, Lord Justice Newey [2021] EWCA Civ 1947 Bailii, Judiciary Children Act 1989 England and Wales Child Support Updated: 28 December 2021; Ref: scu.670641
The court considered the approach to be taken when considering whether to order a child’s attendance at court in care proceedings. It was argued that the starting point of assuming that a child should not attend, failed to respect the human right to a fair trial of all concerned. Held: The existing law erects a … Continue reading In re W (Children) (Family proceedings: Evidence) (Abuse: Oral Evidence): SC 3 Mar 2010
This case concerns a claimant with fluctuating capacity to conduct legal proceedings. At a time when she had capacity, she retained a firm of solicitors under a conditional fee agreement. The issue was whether the CFA terminated automatically by reason of frustration when she subsequently lost capacity, so that it did not govern the continued … Continue reading Blankley v Central Manchester and Manchester Children’s University Hospitals NHS Trust: CA 27 Jan 2015
Balance of probabilities remains standard of proof There had been cross allegations of abuse within the family, and concerns by the authorities for the children. The judge had been unable to decide whether the child had been shown to be ‘likely to suffer significant harm’ as a consequence. Having found some evidence to suggest that … Continue reading In re B (Children) (Care Proceedings: Standard of Proof) (CAFCASS intervening): HL 11 Jun 2008
A child was found to have bruising consistent with physical abuse. Either or both parents might have caused it, but the judge felt it likely that only one had, that he was unable to decide which, and that they were not so serious that he had to say that the other must have known. Held: … Continue reading In re S-B (Children) (Care proceedings: Standard of proof): SC 14 Dec 2009
An undisclosed principal will not be permitted to claim to be party to a contract if this is contrary to the terms of the contract itself. Thus the provision in the standard form B contract of the London Metal Exchange ‘this contract is made between ourselves and yourselves as principals, we alone being liable to … Continue reading JH Rayner (Mincing Lane) Ltd v Department of Trade and Industry: HL 1989
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In a hearing where the threshold standard was at issue, a party challenged the compliance with Human Rights law of the 1989 Act. The court adjourned the case for transfer to the High Court. Held: The correct court to hear such suggestions was the court seized of the case, and it should not be transferred. … Continue reading In re V (a Child) (Care proceedings: Human Rights Claims): CA 4 Feb 2004
The legal aid board could refuse to grant legal aid to children involved in proceedings to refuse contact to a parent, because the regulations which applied were sufficiently widely drawn to allow a discretion to the local authority to pay the costs. In such circumstances it was not unreasonable for legal aid to be refused. … Continue reading E v Legal Aid Board, Ex P W et Al (Minors): QBD 25 Nov 1999
The mother applied for financial provision for her daughter. The father said the court did not have jurisdiction to make an order. An agreement had been reached between them under French law acknowledging F’s paternity and otherwise. Judges: Sir Nicholas wall P Citations: [2010] EWHC 1453 (Fam), [2011] 1 FLR 109, [2010] Fam Law 923 … Continue reading M v V: FD 23 Jun 2010
In three linked cases, unaccompanied asylum-seeking children had had assistance with housing from the local social services authorities. They claimed entitlement to support as former relevant children under section 20. The local authorities argued that they had provided accommodation under section 17 rather than section 20 of the 1989 Act. Held: Once the section 20 … Continue reading H and others v London Borough of Wandsworth and others: Admn 23 Apr 2007
The appellant was father of a child. A parental responsibility agreement was in place. After difficulties, he applied for contact to be re-established, and for the child’s name to be altered to include his own hyphenated with the mother’s. He appealed the refusal of the latter. Held: The question should be resolved within the framework … Continue reading Re C (a Minor): CA 9 Dec 1998
Citations: [1986] 2 FLR 429 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Cited – Re H (A Minor) (Shared Residence) CA 1-Dec-1992 The court considered the possibility of making a joint residence order. Purchas LJ said: ‘That such an order is open to the court, as has been said in the judgment of Cazalet J, is … Continue reading Riley v Riley: 1986
The claimants sought damages from the defendant local authority after their identities had been wrongfully revealed to the natural parents of the adoptees leading to a claimed campaign of harassment. The adopters has specifically requested that their names and address be not revealed, but they details were let slip in a case conference. Both parties … Continue reading B and B v A County Council: CA 21 Nov 2006
Citations: [2006] EWHC 1912 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes: National Assistance Act 1948 21, National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990, Children Act 1989 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Housing, Benefits, Children, Local Government Updated: 14 November 2022; Ref: scu.244123
The claimant had produced the Star War films which made use of props, in particular a ‘Stormtrooper’ helmet designed by the defendant. The defendant had then himself distributed models of the designs he had created. The appellant obtained judgment against the respondent in the US for punitive damages, but these had not been collected, and … Continue reading Lucasfilm Ltd and Others v Ainsworth and Another: SC 27 Jul 2011
The court had to decide to which of two local authorities, responsibility for supervising a care order should be assigned. The child had moved to live with his grandparents. Held: The judge had been correct to find that family circumstances might justify not following the rules in Northamptonshire and Plymouth, but the case was not … Continue reading H (Child), Re (Care Order: Appropriate Local Authority): CA 18 Nov 2003
The court considered the special guardianship provisions as inserted into the 1989 Act. Held: An individual who needed leave from the court before applying for a special guardianship order had to do so before giving notice to the local authority of his intention to apply for a special guardianship order. Judges: Lord Justice Thorpe, Lord … Continue reading R (a Child), Birmingham City Council v LR (MRR’s Mother) and others: CA 20 Dec 2006
The British father, of Afghan origin, travelled back to Afghanistan to marry. His wife, the mother, planned to come to England but had never left Afghanistan when their first child was born. Her subsequent journey (alone) to England may have resulted in her own habitual residence being established in England, but clearly could not affect … Continue reading SH v HH (Jurisdiction to Grant Wardship): CA 8 Jul 2011
Judges: Sir Nicholas Wall P Citations: [2011] EWHC 1672 (Fam) Links: Bailii Statutes: Children Act 1989 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 15 September 2022; Ref: scu.441420
The court heard appeals in care hearings. Judges: Sir Nicholas Wall P, Rix LJ Citations: [2011] EWCA Civ 745, [2011] 2 FLR 955 Links: Bailii Statutes: Children Act 1989 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 15 September 2022; Ref: scu.441236
Appeal by a local authority against an order refusing the authority’s application for a secure accommodation order under s.25 of the Children Act 1989 in respect of a 15-year-old girl. Citations: [2019] EWCA Civ 2025 Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 12 September 2022; Ref: scu.644122
The claimant had applied to the Child Support Agncy for maintenance. They failed utterly to obtain payment, and she complained now that she was denied the opportunity by the 1991 Act to take court proceedings herself. Held: The denial of access to the courts under section 8 did not engage her civil rights. The Act … Continue reading Secretary of State for Work and Pensions v Kehoe: CA 5 Mar 2004
A child who was the subject of an application under the Act has welfare priority over even his own child-parent’s upbringing. Citations: Independent 01-Apr-1994, Times 10-Mar-1994 Statutes: Children Act 1989 31 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 21 August 2022; Ref: scu.80441
The court was asked: ‘Was it unlawful for the Secretary of State for Health, the respondent, who had power to make provisions for the functioning of the National Health Service in England, to have failed to make a provision which would have enabled women who were citizens of the UK, but who were usually resident … Continue reading A and B, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for Health: SC 14 Jun 2017
Mrs. Nessa arrived at Heathrow aged 55 having lived all her life in Bangladesh. Her husband, Mr. Mobarak Ali, had lived in the United Kingdom from 1962 until he died in 1975 and when she arrived here, Mrs. Nessa had a right of abode. She hoped to live with her husband’s brother. Her three children, … Continue reading Nessa v Chief Adjudication Officer: HL 3 Nov 1999
Proposed changes to the Legal Aid regulations were challenged as being invalid, for being discriminatory. If regulations are not authorised under statute, they will be invalid, even if they have been approved by resolutions of both Houses under the provisions of the relevant enabling Act. Held: The appeal succeeded as to the ultra vires issue.Lord … Continue reading The Public Law Project, Regina (on The Application of) v Lord Chancellor: SC 13 Jul 2016
The claimants, a newspaper and its editor sought judicial review of a refusal to stay private prosecutions brought against them alleging breach of requirements that they not identify children involved in court proceedings, in this case those of the prosecutor. Held: This was ‘a clear case where the court’s conscience is offended by the fact … Continue reading Dacre and Another v City of Westminster Magistrates Court and others: Admn 16 Jul 2008
Inherent High Court power may restrain Publicity The claimant child’s mother was to be tried for the murder of his brother by poisoning with salt. It was feared that the publicity which would normally attend a trial, would be damaging to S, and an application was made for reporting restrictions to be applied to avoid … Continue reading In re S (a Child) (Identification: Restrictions on Publication): HL 28 Oct 2004
The appellants were magazines and journalists who published, after committal proceedings, the name of a witness, a member of the security services, who had been referred to as Colonel B during the hearing. An order had been made for his name not to be disclosed during the hearing, but the court had had no power … Continue reading Attorney-General v Leveller Magazine Ltd: HL 1 Feb 1979
An order was sought in care proceedings with regard to a child of a family where the father was a member of the administrative and diplomatic staff of a diplomatic mission. Held: Where a child was present in the UK at the time of the application, an English court had jurisdiction. Such a worker was … Continue reading In re B (A child) (Care proceedings: Diplomatic Immunity): FD 30 Jul 2002
The occupier had been granted a temporary licence by the authority under the homelessness provisions whilst it made its assessment. The assessment concluded that she had become homeless intentionally, and therefore terminated the licence and set out to evict her. She claimed that the authority had to get a court authority before so evicting her. … Continue reading Desnousse v London Borough of Newham and others: CA 17 May 2006
The several defendants complained at the use at their trials of evidence given anonymously. The perceived need for anonymity arose because, from intimidation, the witnesses would not be willing to give their evidence without it. Held: The anonymity ruling did not prevent proper investigation with the witnesses in open court of the essential elements of … Continue reading Regina v Davis (Iain); Regina v Ellis, Regina v Gregory, Regina v Simms, Regina v Martin: CACD 19 May 2006
Judges: Lord Justice Thorpe Lord Justice Laws Lady Justice Hallett Citations: [2006] EWCA Civ 479 Links: Bailii Statutes: Children Act 1989 15 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 06 July 2022; Ref: scu.241401
Serious abuse was said to have been inflicted by monks of the De La Salle order on those in their charge at an approved school in Scotland. The former pupil claimant contended that the SED owed him a non-delegable duty which entitled him to financial redress for his suffering. Held: The case could not be … Continue reading AM v Reverend Joseph Hendron and others: OHCS 13 Sep 2005
Each defendant appealed against convictions associated variously with the cultivation or possession of cannabis resin. They sought to plead medical necessity. There had been medical recommendations to move cannabis to the list of drugs which might be prescribed by a doctor, but this had been rejected. Held: The appeals failed. There was no over-arching principle … Continue reading Quayle and others v Regina, Attorney General’s Reference (No. 2 of 2004): CACD 27 May 2005
The applicants had two severely disabled children. They sought assistance from the local authority in carrying out the necessary adaptations to their home. The authority asked first as to their financial circumstances. They declined, saying that any such consideration was not relevant to the decision. Held: The statutes were unclear, but the result was that … Continue reading Regina ex parte Spink and Another v The London Borough of Wandsworth: CA 18 Mar 2005
The claimant shared child care with his former partner, but claimed that the system which gave the job-seeker’s child care supplement to one party only was discriminatory. Held: In such cases the supplement usually went to the mother, and this had a diverse impact on men. It was for the Secretary of State to justify … Continue reading Hockenjos v Secretary of State for Social Security (No 2): CA 21 Dec 2004
The defendant was to have been accused of having unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 16. Proceedings could not be brought, because the allegation was more than a year old, and he was instead accused of indecent assault, but on the same facts. He appealed against his conviction, saying this was an abuse of … Continue reading Regina v J: HL 14 Oct 2004
The court considered an application for an order for parental rights under the 1967 Act. Held: Ward J said: ‘Can this (father) show that he is the father of the child, not in the biological sense but in the sense that he has established or is likely to establish such a real family tie with … Continue reading D v Hereford and Worcester County Council: FD 1991
Care proceedings were commenced for one child after the death of a sibling, but without evidence as to which carer was responsible. Held: It had not been established upon a balance of probabilities that any one or more of the injuries were caused by either the mother or father. The mother must be treated as … Continue reading Re O and N (Care: preliminary hearing): CA 2002
The mother resisted an order requiring her to return to Saudi Arabia her child, saying that his human rights would be breached in Saudi. Held: The court could apply the convention only as regards actions which would take place in a convention country. Speed was essential in dealing with international child abduction cases. Whilst there … Continue reading In re J (a child) (Child returned abroad: Convention Rights, Human Rights): CA 2 Apr 2004
A scheme had been introduced to arrange pre-entry clearance for visitors to the United Kingdom by posting of immigration officers in the Czech Republic. The claimants argued that the system was discriminatory, because Roma visitors were now subjected to a much more rigorous examination than others, and also that the arrangement put the respondent in … Continue reading European Roma Rights Centre and others v Immigration Officer at Prague Airport and Another: CA 20 May 2003
A notice was given to the holder of a waste disposal licence to require certain information to be provided on pain of prosecution. The provision of such information could also then be evidence against the provider of the commission of a criminal offence. Held: Nevertheless, the provision of such information was required in this case, … Continue reading Regina v Hertfordshire County Council, ex parte Green Environmental Industries Ltd and Another: HL 17 Feb 2000
Sperm which had been taken from a dying and unconscious man may not be used for the later insemination of his surviving wife. The Act required his written consent. Held: Community Law does not assist the Applicant. The question had been considered in Parliament, and allowing for the limitations on the powers of courts exercising … Continue reading Regina v Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority ex parte DB: Admn 17 Oct 1996
The local authority applied for a care order in respect of a young baby. The mother was only 15 and was a ‘child’ herself. Held: In an application under 34(4) the interests of the child who is the subject of the application are paramount, and precede those of the mother, even if she herself is … Continue reading Birmingham City Council v H (A Minor) and Others: HL 16 Dec 1993
The mother had been given leave by the Recorder to remove a ten month old girl permanently from the jurisdiction to the United States in circumstances where the mother`s job prospects were better in New York than in England. The father, (in person) raised the question of a breach of his right under Article 8(1). … Continue reading In re A (permission to remove child from jurisdiction: human rights): CA 2000
The court rejected an argument that ‘likely to suffer significant harm’ in the subsection was to be equated with ‘on the balance of probabilities’. Citations: [1993] 1 FLR 28 Statutes: Children Act 1989 31(2)(a) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Applied – In re A (A Minor) (Care Proceedings) FD 2-Jan-1993 It was again argued … Continue reading Newham London Borough Council v Attorney-General: CA 1993
The court heard an appeal from an order made on an application for leave to remove a child from the jurisdiction. Judges: Morritt, Thorpe and Chadwick LJJ Citations: [2000] 2 FLR 457 Statutes: Children Act 1989 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: Cited – Poel v Poel CA 1970 The mother of a child of two … Continue reading In Re C (leave to remove from the jurisdiction): CA 2000
The court considered the possibility of making a joint residence order. Purchas LJ said: ‘That such an order is open to the court, as has been said in the judgment of Cazalet J, is clear from the provisions of section 11(4) of the Children Act 1989, as was indicated during the debate on the Bill … Continue reading Re H (A Minor) (Shared Residence): CA 1 Dec 1992
The authority had carried out an inquiry into its handling of an application for a care order. It sought to restrain republication of the report. Held: There were competing requirements under the Convention. Any jurisdiction to restrain publication must be exercised in such circumstances only to protect the children involved. The scope to act for … Continue reading In re a local authority (Inquiry: restraint on publication); A Local Authority v A Health Authority and A: FD 27 Nov 2003
An allegation had been made by a daughter of sexual abuse against her step-father. Despite his acquittal, the local authority went ahead with an application for a care order. The authority now appealed against a finding that it had not established a risk to the children to a sufficient standard. Held: The appeal failed. The … Continue reading In re H and R (Minors): CA 1994
The claimant suffered psychiatric injury in a rail crash caused by the defendant’s negligence. Under this condition of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, the claimant had later gone on to kill another person, and he had been detained under section 41. He now sought damages for his loss of earnings through detention in prison and mental hospital. … Continue reading Gray v Thames Trains and Others: HL 17 Jun 2009
On making a secure accommodation order, the welfare of the child is a relevant but not the paramount consideration. The Court referred to the responsibility of reaching ‘so serious and Draconian a decision as the restriction upon the liberty of the child’. Citations: Times 15-Nov-1994, [1995] 1 FLR 418 Statutes: Children Act 1989 25 Jurisdiction: … Continue reading In Re M (A Minor) (Secure Accommodation Order): CA 15 Nov 1994
Upon the allegedly negligent release of the claimant from mental health care, she had, while in the midst of a serious psychotic episode, derived from the schizophrenia, killed her mother and been convicted of manslaughter. She now sought damages in negligence. The defendant relied upon a defence of illegality. Held: All the heads of claim … Continue reading Henderson v Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust: CA 3 Aug 2018
D, a young adult had a mild learning disability and other more serious conditions. He was taken into a hospital providing mental health services. The external door was locked, and a declaration was sought to permit this deprivation of his liberty, and whether his parents could give consent for it. Held: (LL Carnwath and Lloyd-Jones … Continue reading In re D (A Child): SC 26 Sep 2019
An order providing that a child should stay in secure accommodation, was an order which restricted the child’s liberty. A justification for such a restriction had to be brought within the exceptions listed in article 5. Held: Detention for educational supervision was permitted, and such supervision was not restricted to education in the sense of … Continue reading In Re K (A Child) (Secure Accommodation Order: Right to Liberty): CA 29 Nov 2000
The Prison Service’s policy of refusing to allow children over the age of eighteen months to stay with their mother in prison was lawful. The impairment of family life was an inevitable and inherent part of the imposition of a sentence of imprisonment. The policy was to designed allow for the protection of children’s interests … Continue reading Regina (P) v Secretary of State for the Home Department, Regina (Q) v Same: QBD 1 Jun 2001
The applicants sought to oblige the local authority, in compliance with its duties under the 1989 Act, to provide a home for children, and where necessary an accompanying adult. Held: There were four hurdles for the applicants to cross. They must show that their children are children in need within the meaning of section 17(10). … Continue reading Regina v London Borough of Barnet ex parte G; Regina v London Borough of Lambeth ex parte W; Regina v London Borough of Lambeth ex parte A: HL 23 Oct 2003
Limits to Police Exemption from Liability The claimant, an elderly lady was bowled over and injured when police were chasing a suspect through the streets. As they arrested him they fell over on top of her. She appealed against refusal of her claim in negligence. Held: Her appeal succeeded. It is normally only in a … Continue reading Robinson v Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police: SC 8 Feb 2018
B had been removed into care at birth. The parents now appealed against a care order made with a view to B’s adoption. The Court was asked as to the situation where the risks were necessarily only anticipated, and as to appeals against a finding of fact. Held: (Lady Hale dissenting) The appeal was dismissed. … Continue reading Re B (A Child) (Care Proceedings: Threshold Criteria): SC 12 Jun 2013
Judicial review of the policy adopted by Salford City Council (‘the Council’) for calculating the amount of financial assistance to be provided under section 17 of the Children Act 1989 (‘the 1989 Act’) to meet the needs of children and their parents who are destitute as they had no accommodation and no means of providing … Continue reading Mensah v Salford City Council: Admn 28 Oct 2014
Care proceedings were taken in respect of three children. One, a 15 year old girl was pregnant. She refused to allow a DNA test so as to allow the father to be identified. The Council appealed against an order conceding that point. Judges: Sir Nicholas Wall P, Patten LJ Citations: [2011] EWCA Civ 795 Links: … Continue reading Brighton and Hove City Council v PM and Others: CA 12 Jul 2011
The claimants alleged negligence causing them personal injury and other losses arising from pollution from mining operations of the defendants in Zambia. The company denied jurisdiction. In the Court of Appeal the defendants’ appeals were dismissed. Held: The appeals failed save that the UK was not the proper jurisdiction to bring the case. The claim … Continue reading Vedanta Resources Plc and Another v Lungowe and Others: SC 10 Apr 2019
(Northern Ireland) The deceased solicitor was murdered in his home in 1989, allegedly by loyalists. They had never been identified, though collusion between security forces and a loyalist paramilitary was established. The ECHR and a judge led inquiry had said that a proper investigation was required. A promised inquiry under the 2005 Act was objected … Continue reading Finucane, Re Application for Judicial Review: SC 27 Feb 2019
The appellant was detained under section 37 of the 1983 Act as a mental patient with a restriction under section 41. He sought his release. Held: The standard of proof in such applications remained the balance of probabilities, but that standard was flexible, and varied according to the seriousness of the allegation. The only misdirection … Continue reading AN, Regina (on the Application of) v Mental Health Review Tribunal (Northern Region) and others: CA 21 Dec 2005
The wife joined in a charge on the family home to secure her husband’s business borrowings. The husband was found to have misrepresented to her the effect of the deed, and the bank had been aware that she might be reluctant to sign the deed. Held: The charge was not to be enforced. The bank … Continue reading Barclays Bank Plc v O’Brien and Another: HL 21 Oct 1993
The local authority had obtained the issue of an Emergency Protection Order under the 1989 Act to remove a child at birth. Held: Where the possibility of harm arose from the mother introducing something into the child’s system (such as a laxative) that did not justify separating mother and child. [2002] 2 FLR 631, (2002) … Continue reading P, C and S v United Kingdom: ECHR 2002
ECHR Article 1 Jurisdiction of states Jurisdiction of Azerbaijan as regards a disputed area near Nagorno-Karabakh on the territory of Azerbaijan Article 8 Article 8-1 Respect for family life Respect for home Respect for private life Impossibility for an Armenian citizen displaced in the context of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to gain access to his home … Continue reading Sargsyan v Azerbaijan: ECHR 16 Jun 2015
Former HL decision in Siebe Gorman overruled The company had become insolvent. The bank had a debenture and claimed that its charge over the book debts had become a fixed charge. The preferential creditors said that the charge was a floating charge and that they took priority. Held: The appeal was allowed. The debenture, although … Continue reading National Westminster Bank plc v Spectrum Plus Limited and others: HL 30 Jun 2005
Both parents had parental responsibility. The French mother wished to return to live in France and to take the five year old child with her, applying to court for the appropriate order. Held: The court pointed to the real difficulties always in such applications, and traced the development of the case law from the introduction … Continue reading In re AR (A Child: Relocation): FD 10 Jun 2010
It was again argued that ‘likely’ meant more probable than not. Held: The argument was not open to the appellants in the light of Newham London Borough Council. Thorpe J [1993] 1 FLR 824 Children Act 1989 31(2)(a) England and Wales Citing: Applied – Newham London Borough Council v Attorney-General CA 1993 The court rejected … Continue reading In re A (A Minor) (Care Proceedings): FD 2 Jan 1993
Doncaster Metropolitan Borough authority (‘the local authority’) seeks to put into the public domain aspects of care proceedings under Part IV of the Children Act 1989, which, in accordance with normal practice, were heard in private. The Rt Hon the President, Sir Nicholas Wall [2011] EWHC 2412 (Fam), [2011] Fam Law 1205, [2011] 3 FCR … Continue reading Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council v Haigh and Others: FD 22 Aug 2011
The local authority was investigating allegations involving the family history of children in their care. They sought disclosure by the respondent police authority of the results DNA comparison tests to assist their investigations. The court considered whether a matching report on a DNA sample itself was derived from the sample. Held: Disclosure could not be … Continue reading London Borough of Lewisham v D and Others: FD 29 Mar 2010
The claimant challenged the Order as regards the prescription of the morning-after pill, asserting that the pill would cause miscarriages, and that therefore the use would be an offence under the 1861 Act. Held: ‘SPUC’s case is that any interference with a fertilised egg, if it leads to the loss of the egg, involves the … Continue reading Regina (Smeaton) v Secretary of State for Health and Others: Admn 18 Apr 2002
The applicant children had been detained in immigration camps in Australia. They escaped and sought refuge in the British High Commission in Melbourne and claimed diplomatic asylum. They claimed in damages after being returned to the authorities in Australia. Held: Any threat to their safety was not sufficient to justify not returning them to the … Continue reading Regina on the Application of B and others v Secretary of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office: CA 18 Oct 2004
Same Sex Partner Entitled to tenancy Succession The protected tenant had died. His same-sex partner sought a statutory inheritance of the tenancy. Held: His appeal succeeded. The Fitzpatrick case referred to the position before the 1998 Act: ‘Discriminatory law undermines the rule of law because it is the antithesis of fairness. It brings the law … Continue reading Ghaidan v Godin-Mendoza: HL 21 Jun 2004
The appellant had been unsuccessful in litigation against his former bank. The Financial Services Authority had subsequently investigated his complaint against the bank. Using section 7 of the Data Protection Act 1998, he requested disclosure of his personal data held by the bank. The Financial Services Authority disclosed some copies of documents relating to the … Continue reading Durant v Financial Services Authority: CA 8 Dec 2003
The applicants had been made subject of anti-social behaviour orders. They challenged the basis upon which the orders had been made. Held: The orders had no identifiable consequences which would make the process a criminal one. Civil standards of evidence therefore applied, and hearsay evidence was admissible. Nevertheless, the test as to whether it was … Continue reading Clingham (formerly C (a minor)) v Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea; Regina v Crown Court at Manchester Ex parte McCann and Others: HL 17 Oct 2002
Child’s Wish for post-mortem cryonic Preservation JS, a child of 14, anticipating her death from cancer expressed the desire that her body should receive cryonic preservation in the hope that one day a treatment might be available to allow her to be revived, and proceedings were issued. Her parents were divorced, and they differed as … Continue reading Re JS (Disposal of Body): FD 10 Nov 2016
The LA, the guardian and adoptive parents appealed against an order that they should provide to the parents an annual photograph of the child. They contended that an image should only be made available to be viewed at the authority’s offices annually. Held: The order was discharged. The judge had erred in law in reaching … Continue reading Oxfordshire County Council v X and Others: CA 27 May 2010
The claimant sought equal pay with other, male, warehouse operatives who were doing work of equal value but for more money. The Court of Appeal had held that since other men were also employed on the same terms both as to pay and work, her claim failed. Held: The claim was not disbarred in this … Continue reading Pickstone v Freemans Plc: HL 30 Jun 1988
The principal claimants sold the rights to take photographs of their wedding to a co-claimant magazine (OK). Persons acting on behalf of the defendants took unauthorised photographs which the defendants published. The claimants had retained joint copyright over the photographs and reserved a right to control publication of any particular photographs. In return they made … Continue reading Douglas and others v Hello! Ltd and others (No 3): CA 18 May 2005
Taxpayer companies challenged the way that the revenue restricted claims for group Corporation Tax relief for subsidiary companies in Europe. The issue was awaiting a decision of the European Court. The Revenue said that the claims now being made by other companies should proceed through the Commissioners who could implement European law directly. The taxpayers … Continue reading Autologic Holdings Plc and others v Commissioners of Inland Revenue: HL 28 Jul 2005
(Grand Chamber) The applicants complained that on being arrested on suspicion of offences, samples of their DNA had been taken, but then despite being released without conviction, the samples had retained on the Police database. Held: (Unanimous) The retention was unlawful. Though other member states retained some DNA samples in certain conditions, the UK was … Continue reading Marper v United Kingdom; S v United Kingdom: ECHR 4 Dec 2008
An application was made in care proceedings for an order restricting publication of information about the family after the deaths of two siblings of the child subject to the application. The Sun and a local newspaper had already published stories which it was said were in breach of the order, and attempts were made to … Continue reading In re A (A Minor): FD 8 Jul 2011
The applicants had been imprisoned and held without trial, being suspected of international terrorism. No criminal charges were intended to be brought. They were foreigners and free to return home if they wished, but feared for their lives if they did. A British subject, who was suspected in the exact same way, and there were … Continue reading A v Secretary of State for the Home Department, and X v Secretary of State for the Home Department: HL 16 Dec 2004
The father had been awarded shared residence for three children. He asked the local authority to provide appropriate housing. Held: The authority’s appeal succeeded. ‘When any family court decides with whom the children of separated parents are to live, the welfare of those children must be its paramount consideration: the Children Act 1989, section 1(1). … Continue reading Holmes-Moorhouse v Richmond Upon Thames: HL 4 Feb 2009
The court considered the extent of an Authority’s duties when a young woman (17) came to its attention under section 17 of the 1989 Act. The claimant was fleeing the domestic violence of her partner. The authority had said that she should seek help not from Social Services but instead through family services or victim … Continue reading MM, Regina (on the Application of) v London Borough of Lewisham: Admn 6 Mar 2009
