Summary: The complainant requested information relating to the decision to disband the three Home Service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment. The Northern Ireland Office (the NIO) refused the request in reliance on the exemptions under sections 21, 35 and 36 of the Act. During the Commissioner-™s investigation the NIO also sought to rely on the exemptions under section 26 and section 38 and section 40 of the Act, although it later withdrew reliance on section 26. Following the Commissioner-™s intervention, the NIO released most of the requested information to the complainant. Information Tribunal appeal number EA/2009/0090 has been disposed of by way of a consent order.
Section of Act/EIR & Finding: FOI 10 - Complaint Upheld, FOI 17 - Complaint Upheld, FOI 35 - Complaint Partly Upheld, FOI 40 - Complaint Not upheld