‘Shock’ at official disclosing data to private detective

DATA protection chiefs said they were “shocked” by their investigation into the alleged disclosure of confidential personal information, involving potentially hundreds of people, by an official in the Department of Social Protection, to a private detective.

The Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) is investigating suspicions that this private investigator was sending reports, using this information, to a large number of insurance companies in Ireland, some with a large international presence.

The detective could face prosecution, while the insurance companies, some of which are publicly-quoted, also run the risk of being dragged through the criminal courts. In both cases, the DPC would be the prosecuting authority.