Insurance firms breached data laws

Three insurance companies have admitted breaking data protection laws by possessing personal information on 15 people which was obtained by a private detective from a leak in the Department of Social Protection.

Zurich Insurance, FBD Insurance and Travelers Insurance Company pleaded guilty at Dublin District Court yesterday to 10 counts of violating the Data Protection Act.

They faced possible fines of €3,000 per charge but Judge Ann Ryan held that they would be spared criminal convictions and the monetary penalties if they each gave €20,000 to a charity for homeless people.