Mr X and Trinity College Dublin (Trinity College Dublin) [2021] IEIC 100140 (16 April 2021)

Mr X and Trinity College Dublin (Trinity College Dublin) [2021] IEIC 100140 (16 April 2021)

Trinity College Dublin does not hold the requested emails for the purposes of section 11(1) of the FOI Act because the emails are sent from a former student's account in a private capacity, are not connected to TCD's business or functions, and TCD is not entitled to access the information in the records.

Citation
[2021] IEIC 100140
Parties
Applicant: Mr X; Respondent: Trinity College Dublin
Jurisdiction
Ireland
Judgment Date
16 April 2021
Procedural Posture
FOI Review / Decision of Information Commissioner Following Internal Review
Outcome
request refused and refusal affirmed
Legal Topics
Meaning of 'held' Under FOI Act, Access to Records, University Alumni Email Accounts
Freedom of Information Administrative Law Meaning of 'held' Under FOI Act Access to Records University Alumni Email Accounts

Case Brief

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

More case intelligence is available

Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.

Full judgment text Downloadable case file Legal principles 2 Authorities cited 5 Party arguments 2
Sign in to unlock

Parties

Mr X

Applicant

Trinity College Dublin

Respondent

Procedural Posture

FOI Review / Decision of Information Commissioner Following Internal Review

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether Trinity College Dublin holds emails sent from a former student's account for the purposes of section 11(1) of the FOI Act

Ratio Decidendi

Trinity College Dublin does not hold the requested emails for the purposes of section 11(1) of the FOI Act because the emails are sent from a former student's account in a private capacity, are not connected to TCD's business or functions, and TCD is not entitled to access the information in the records.

Court Disposition

request refused and refusal affirmed

Orders

  • TCD's refusal to grant access to the requested emails is affirmed.