Courts / Ireland / Report

Delaney's bid to ban media from court hearings fails for time being

Summary

John Delaney, former CEO of the FAI, applied to the High Court for an in‑camera hearing of proceedings concerning the seizure of about 280,000 documents by the ODCE. He argued that media coverage would expose legally privileged information. The court rejected the application, stating that no legal basis existed to hold the hearing privately. Delaney's concerns were opposed by media outlets, notably the Sunday Times, which argued that public scrutiny is a constitutional right. The judge noted that the case had been ongoing since February 2020 and that the matter could be revisited if the assessors' reports, prepared by independent barristers, indicated a need for privacy. No order was made at this stage, and the proceedings were adjourned to a date in April. The ODCE, the FAI, and the parties involved remain neutral on the decision.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Delaney's bid to ban media from court hearings fails for time being. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

• March 2019 Other
• February 2020 Adjournment
• 2021-03-23 Publication

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Hearing Or Decision

Read the original CNI report