Access to Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2003

Restriction of disclosure of information

32.—(1) Information which is furnished—

(a) to the Commission or any court, tribunal or other person or body on whom functions are imposed or conferred by or under this Part, and

(b) in connection with the case of an individual seeking or receiving civil legal services or criminal defence services funded by the Commission,

shall not be disclosed except as permitted by regulations.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not limit the disclosure of—

(a) information in the form of a summary or collection of information so framed as not to enable information relating to any individual to be ascertained from it, or

(b) information about the amount of any grant, loan or other payment made to any person or body by the Commission.

(3) Paragraph (1) does not prevent the disclosure of information for any purpose with the consent of the individual in connection with whose case it was furnished and, where he did not furnish it himself, with that of the person or body who did.

(4) A person who discloses any information in contravention of this Article shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.

(5) Proceedings for an offence under this Article shall not be brought except by or with the consent of the Attorney General.

(6) Nothing in this Article applies to information furnished to a person providing civil legal services or criminal defence services funded by the Commission by or on behalf of an individual seeking or receiving such services.