Potential Banking Data Breach At Cork Dump

One of Ireland's leading banks is investigating a potential data breach, after documents, containing customers' personal details, were found at a former Cork landfill.

Allied Irish Bank officials are said to be examining the find, which is believed to include loan applications and customer statements.

Discovered at the former Killacloyne landfill site near Glounthaune in east Cork, bank officials are reportedly being helped by a specialist contractor to sort through the material.

Earlier this year, hundreds of confidential medical records were found at the same site.

These medical documents detailed names, addresses, birth dates and the health history of patients, who had been treated at several Cork hospitals during the 1970s and 1980s.

After the unearthing of the files, in April, the Health Service Executive secured the site and implemented an immediate investigation into the matter, with the promise of recovering all files buried at the site.

It has been reported the latest data discovery was made by contractors employed to sift the site for remaining medical records.

AIB has confirmed an investigated has commenced but declined to make any further comment until a full examination of the find was complete.

A spokesperson said the relevant authorities, the Financial Regulator and Data Commissioner, would be informed about the matter.

Ireland's Data Commissioner Billy Hawkes told RTÉ News he would be concerned if confidential financial information was dumped in this way.

(PR/JM)