Cases

Johnson v Home Office

Facts

C was a mental health social worker and the social supervisor of W. W had been found not guilty by reason of insanity of murdering his daughter & detained in a secure psychiatric hospital. He was later conditionally discharged on various terms including being under social supervision. W applied to the Mental Health Review Tribunal for absolute discharge. In 1995, C under statutory requirements prepared a report. It had a page marked Strictly Confidential and was sent to the D. Some information in that report was included by the Home Office in a later statement prepared for a further MHRT application (which W was entitled to see). Possibly alerted to C's 1995 report by the Home Office report, W obtained a copy of C's report from unknown sources. W's relationship with C broke down. He became agressive & hostile towards C. C brought an action for breach of confidence claiming she suffered psychiatric damage & damage to her reputation, that her standing in the black community suffered.

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