A convicted murderer has allegedly been denied a legislative route to take “pre-emptive steps” to stop the release of his legal aid bill, the High Court has heard.
Raymond O’Neill is attempting to block publication of costs relating to his trial for killing mother-of-three Jennifer Dornan.
His lawyers claim the planned disclosure by Northern Ireland’s Legal Services Agency (LSA) breaches data protection and privacy rights.
At a preliminary hearing on Thursday, it emerged that the challenge is being widened out to include the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
Ronan Lavery KC contended: “There is a gap in the legislation to take pre-emptive steps before information like this is published.”
O’Neill (47) is serving a minimum 22-year sentence for stabbing Ms Dornan to death and then setting fire to her west Belfast home in August 2015.
The fatal knife attack was launched after the 30-year-old victim was followed back to the house at Hazel View in the Lagmore area.
O’Neill denied killing Ms Dornan and claimed that he suffered from memory loss due to being poisoned by prison staff in Dublin.
But in 2022 a Belfast Crown Court jury unanimously convicted him of murder and arson.
O’Neill’s legal challenge centres on the LSA’s response to a request by the Belfast Telegraph newspaper for details on how much was spent on his defence at the trial.
The Agency, a Department of Justice body which manages legal aid, concluded that the information should be published.
Judicial review proceedings have been brought against the LSA in a bid to prevent disclosure of those details.
The convicted killer’s lawyers are also now set to serve papers on the ICO and the Westminster Department over claims there is not a proper legal regime in place for pre-emptive action.
Counsel for the LSA indicated, however, that any alleged breaches will be disputed.
“My client has processed data in accordance with the legislation and the law,” he told the court.
During the hearing solicitor Fergal McGoldrick, representing the publishers of the Belfast Telegraph, requested to see papers in the case to enable the newspaper to decide if it wants to become formally involved as a notice party.
Concerns were raised by O’Neill’s representatives that the material may include confidential information related to the figures involved.
Following submissions Mr Justice McAlinden said he will give a decision on the newspaper’s request later this month.
Adjourning proceedings, he suggested it may be “rather ludicrous” to prevent access to the documentation.