Court reserves decision on John Delaney's appeal over FAI documents privilege

Mr Delaney had argued that the corporate watchdog was not entitled to use just over 1,100 documents relating to him that were seized from the FAI on the grounds that they were covered by legal professional privilege

In her decision last year, Ms Justice Reynolds said John Delaney (pictured) had been afforded every opportunity to furnish the necessary information to substantiate his claim but had "resolutely failed to do so." File picture: INPHO/Morgan Treacy

The Court of Appeal will rule at a later date on former FAI CEO John Delaney's appeal against a decision allowing the Corporate Enforcement Agency (CEA) access certain documents it seized as part of a criminal investigation into the football association.

Mr Delaney had argued before the High Court that the corporate watchdog, formerly known as the ODCE, was not entitled to use just over 1,100 documents relating to him that were seized from the FAI on the grounds that they were covered by legal professional privilege (LPP). In a decision delivered last October, Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds rejected that argument and said that the documents were not covered by legal professional privilege and could be accessed by the CEA as part of its ongoing criminal probe.