Colonel Jerry Lane settles High Court report access case

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

Colonel Jerry Lane’s High Court action over access to a report was settled and withdrawn on 13 March 2019. After talks between the parties, his counsel told Mr Justice Michael Twomey the case had been settled. The case concerned Lane’s allegations of corruption and misconduct within the military.

His counsel said Lane was no longer seeking the independent Smyth report, which the Department of Defence had decided not to publish or rely on. Lane had claimed that withholding it breached his constitutional rights and fair procedures; the State parties denied wrongdoing and opposed the reliefs sought.

The report was commissioned in 2016, and a fresh review was established to be conducted by Frank Callanan SC. Counsel said the proceedings could be struck out.