Reference: [2002] EWHC 2444 (Fam); [2003] 1 All ER 587; [2003] 1 FLR 689
Court: Family Division
Judge: Sumner J
Date of judgment: 27 Nov 2002
Summary: Reporting Restrictions - Family - Children - Applications by Media to vary/discharge order - Costs
Appearances: Jacob Dean KC (Respondent)
Facts
The press applicants sought to report parts of a hearing concerning a dispute within 2 families about whether their children should have the MMR vaccine. The application was unsuccessful and all the families sought their costs against the press applicants.
Issue
Whether it was appropriate to make an order for costs.
Held
Given a previous provisional order that parts of the trial should be heard in public the press should not be penalised in costs for making an application to that effect.
Comment
Despite the fact that successful press applicants are rarely awarded the costs of lifting unjustified reporting restrictions (see Ex parte News Group Newspapers Ltd [2002] EMLR 160 the court made it clear that there was a considerable costs risk to the press in intervening at the eleventh hour.