HSE fined €645k after records left covered in mould and animal droppings Wed, 02 Sep, 2026 – 10:30Cate McCurry
The HSE has been fined €645,000 for storing personal records in disused bathrooms and a turf shed which left documents rotting and covered in mould and animal droppings, the Data Protection Commission has said (DPC).
Site inspections by the DPC found storage areas in “profound disarray and neglect”, with records stored in disused bathrooms, cubicles and a shipping container in a turf shed.
The DPC fined the HSE a total of €645,000, and imposed a reprimand and a number of corrective orders.
The investigation looked into the HSE’s processing of personal data contained in paper records, which are stored and retained in its external storage facilities.
The investigation started in May 2024 following two personal data breaches notified to the DPC in October 2023 and November 2023.
The first breach was reported in October 2023 when individuals gained unauthorised access to paper records stored and retained in St Loman’s Hospital, Mullingar, Co Westmeath.
The facility is a disused psychiatric hospital which is contaminated with asbestos.
The breach reported in November 2023 came after individuals gained unauthorised access to paper records stored and retained in the New Building at St Conal’s Hospital, Letterkenny, Co Donegal.
This location is also a disused psychiatric hospital which is contaminated with severe mould.
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Videos uploaded to social media by intruders highlighted that medical records were stored and retained in both facilities.
Separately, in April 2024, the HSE informed the DPC that it became aware, through social media, that there had been unauthorised access to the basement of St Loman’s Hospital, where further records were being stored and retained.
The DPC was, at that stage, advised by the HSE that these records were “old mental health” records.
Officers from the DPC carried out 12 site inspections across the country.
DPC said such inspections establish whether the issues identified in the breach notifications were isolated incidents, or whether the issues were systemic regarding the retention and storage of personal data contained in paper records, held by the HSE, in its external facilities.
The DPC said there were data protection failings concerning the physical conditions of HSE document storage facilities and the integrity of the documents held within those facilities.
Deputy commissioner Graham Doyle said: “During the site inspections, the DPC observed significant issues with documents damaged or effectively destroyed by mould, contaminated by animal droppings, covered in rubble or detritus, rotting due to the storage environment or water damaged.
“The DPC discovered storage areas in such profound disarray and neglect that the records contained within them could not be deemed to be filed in any organised or accessible manner.
“There were records stored in disused bathrooms and cubicles, a shipping container in a turf shed, rooms without functioning lighting or heating, as well as derelict buildings at a number of disparate locations.
“The retention of records by the HSE in an insecure manner beyond the period where they should be retained gives rise to an ongoing significant risk of unauthorised access to and disclosure of sensitive medical information by third parties.
“There is also the risk of records not being available for other medical care or other legal or regulatory reasons.”
– Press Association
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