Data protection bosses have issued strong warnings to credit unions, the ESB and members of the Garda Síochána following the prosecution of a private investigator for breaching data laws.

A private investigator has been fined €5,000 after he was convicted of breaking data protection laws by obtaining private personal information held by gardaí and the ESB.

The body tasked with regulating private investigators has no target date for introducing regulations despite being set up 10 years ago.

A private investigator is facing trial accused of unlawfully obtaining and passing on information gardaí had on three people.