Courts / Ireland / Report

Delaney's bid to bar media from hearing 'very draconian', court told

Summary

John Delaney, former CEO of the FAI, has applied to the High Court to hold a hearing over the inspection of 280,000 seized documents in camera, arguing that media coverage would expose private and legally privileged information. The documents were seized in February 2020 by the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) during a criminal investigation into the FAI. Delaney, who is a notice party, claims that certain material is covered by legal professional privilege and should not be disclosed to the ODCE or the public. Solicitor Simon McAleese, representing the Sunday Times, opposes the in‑camera request, stating that the media should be allowed to attend and report. The court has adjourned the matter for a week to allow further legal submissions, noting that the application is premature as no report from the independent examiner, Niall Nolan Bl, has yet been submitted. The ODCE and the FAI remain neutral on the in‑camera application.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Delaney's bid to bar media from hearing 'very draconian', court told. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

• February 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2021-02-24 Publication

Why: In order to protect the integrity of Mr Delaney's privilege claims and his family's privacy, the court should hear matters in camera, or in the alternative restrain reporters from reporting details in the hearing until the issues concerning privilege are determined, Mr McGarry submitted. CNI source report

Places mentioned

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Stage Hearing Or Decision

Read the original CNI report