Apology Over Files That 'Fell Off The Back Of A Lorry'

While slamming a fellow MLA's motives for revealing the issue in the first place, the NI Assembly Education Minister, Caitriona Ruane has now apologised after personal files were found dumped at a Co Down roadside.

The confidential education files containing personal data on pupils and their families was discovered at the side of a road near Newry.

The files, which date back 40 years, are thought to have fallen off a trailer that was on its way to a dump in Camlough.

They were handed over to SDLP MLA Dominic Bradley at the weekend who brought the matter to the media's attention.

While Ms Ruane said his decision to go public was "politically motivated," she added: "I accept there's a problem."

The secret dossiers on about 120 pupils contained comments about threadbare clothing on 'unwashed' children and derogatory descriptions of parents.

Among the information in the files were results of doctors' examinations, data on admissions to a psychiatric institution and prosecutions for non-attendance.

However, Mr Bradley has insisted he had acted in the public interest and told the Minister and the Southern Education Board “not to shoot the messenger”.

Ms Ruane has now told fellow Assembly Members that a full investigation had begun.

"The message to say to our current children, who are worried and now watching this, is that we will do everything to make sure the records are safe," she said.

"(I want) to say to the adults who were children then we are going to be contacting them and we will totally protect their confidentiality and their identity."

The revelations came only a week after it came to light that a patient's medical file has been found in the drawer of a filing cabinet which was sold in a County Antrim charity shop.

(NS)