An inquiry is under way into how the confidential records of hundreds of clients of a Dublin law centre ended up in a rubbish dump without being shredded.
The 24 bags of documents, some of which were torn, included copies of bank records, passports, medical reports, wills and other sensitive personal information.
Among the items the Ormond Quay law centre put out for waste collection were documents relating to a candidate in the last general election and a number of people who are taking proceedings against the centre.
The law centre is being closed down, The Irish Times has learned, but the chief executive of the Legal Aid Board, Moling Ryan, said yesterday this was a coincidence and there was no link between the loss of records last July and the decision to discontinue legal aid services.
Mr Ryan confirmed that an investigation into the incident had been ordered, which would be completed in a number of weeks. He acknowledged that "some documents were, unfortunately, put out with the rubbish" but said the lost material contained nothing of significance in relation to case files and did not involve issues of confidentiality.
However, The Irish Times has seen an inventory of the lost records, which include completed anti-money laundering forms with personal details of clients, social workers' reports in relation to childcare cases, copies of court orders made in in camera court proceedings, pay slips and children's medical reports. .
The investigation into the matter was triggered last July when a letter was sent by "concerned members of staff" at the centre to the chairwoman of the Legal Aid Board, Anne Colley, expressing concern that the personal details of clients may have ended up "strewn about the street".
Ms Colley expressed her concern and an investigation was ordered in August, headed by Jim McCormack, retired director of the Courts Service. Mr Ryan said it was not his intention to publish Mr McCormack's report when it becomes ready. A spokesman for the Data Protection Commissioner said it expected to be informed in situations involving a breach of data security.