Bank of Ireland settles alleged data breach case for €350,000

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Bank of Ireland agreed a €350,000 settlement in a High Court case over the alleged release of a woman’s banking details. The proceedings were reported on 5 March 2025.

On 5 March 2025, Ms Justice Mary Rose Gearty was told that the settlement was made without admission of liability, with €275,000 for the woman and €75,000 for her partner.

The woman alleged that her estranged father used confidential transaction data to find her abroad and “watch, beset and harass” her, causing her psychological trauma. She sought damages against the bank, her father and his firm for alleged breaches of duty, privacy and confidence.

The bank denied any breach of duty and made no admission about how the documents came into her father’s possession. Following the Data Protection Commissioner’s involvement, it acknowledged falling short of the standards the woman should have been able to rely upon.

John O’Donnell SC, for the two plaintiffs, said an order for a lodgement had been made in February 2023 and the time to make it had been extended. He said the lodgement had now been made. Counsel said the plaintiffs would be awarded their costs up to 9 October 2023, and that their cases against the woman’s father and his business could be struck out with no order as to costs.