In May 1998, the person in question applied to the military authorities under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, for access to copies of all documents in relation to his retirement from the Permanent Defence Force and in relation to his period of service in the Permanent Defence Force.
The military authorities issued their decision on the application on 12 June 1998. They advised him that the records sought did not come within the scope of relevant provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, except in so far as the request related to ‘personal information', as provided for in the Act. In this regard, he was advised that he could have access to all personal information contained in his file for the period in question and could photocopy the documents to which access had been granted.