Ministry of Defence
- Date 8 November 2022
- Sector Central government
- Decision(s) FOI 31: Not upheld
The complainant submitted a request to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) seeking the ‘Special Investigation Branch (RMP)’ files into a shooting at Springhill, Belfast in July 1972 which resulted in the deaths of five civilians. The MOD disclosed some information in response to the request but argued that the remaining information was exempt from disclosure on the basis of sections 31(1)(a), (b) and (c) (law enforcement), 38(1)(a) and (b) (health and safety) and 40(2) (personal data) of FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that the withheld information is exempt from disclosure on the basis of sections 31(1)(a), (b) and (c) and that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest favours maintaining these exemptions.