IBRC commission wins injunction over Siteserv evidence

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

The IBRC commission secured a High Court injunction against the Sunday Business Post on 1 December 2017, restricting publication of evidence given to the commission. Mr Justice Paul Gilligan granted the order, which was sought over fears that further reporting could undermine the commission’s work. It was to remain in place until the commission published its Siteserv report.

The order, made with the publisher’s consent, covers witness statements, exhibits to witness statements, private-session oral evidence and documents circulated under section 12 of the 2004 Commissions of Investigation Act.

Several witnesses had expressed concern to the commission that their confidential personal financial and banking evidence could be disclosed. The commission believed a subsequent article and supplement about Siteserv may have breached the Act. Editor Ian Kehoe said he did not believe the publication breached an earlier undertaking because the material did not come from the commission or any of its activities.

The commission was investigating the €45.4 million sale of Siteserv to Millington in March 2012.