Health Services Executive v Judge White & Others (notice parties)

• Jurisdiction: Ireland
• Court: High Court
• Judge: Mr. Justice John Edwards
• Judgment Date: 22 May 2009
• Neutral Citation: [2009] IEHC 242
• Date: 22 May 2009

Health Service Executive (HSE) v Judge White

JUDICIAL REVIEW

BETWEEN

THE HEALTH SERVICE EXECUTIVE

APPLICANT

AND

HIS HONOUR JUDGE MICHAEL WHITE

RESPONDENT

AND

THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS, JONATHAN COSTEN, ELEANOR JOEL AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

NOTICE PARTIES

[2009] IEHC 242

[No. 646 JR/2008]

THE HIGH COURT

CRIMINAL LAW

Disclosure

Third party disclosure - Defendants charged with manslaughter and reckless endangerment arising from alleged neglect of relative - Applicant health board ordered by trial judge to make disclosure of certain material - Applicant not party to criminal prosecution - Equality of arms principle - Subpoena duces tecum - Separation of powers - Whether circuit court empowered to make disclosure order - Whether power to make disclosure order against non-party - Whether public interest and constitutional imperative of fair trial provided grounds for order - Whether applicant's status as State body of relevance - Whether disclosure order in the nature of order of discovery - Whether courts obliged to interpret and develop common law rules of procedure so as to vindicate constitutional rights - Whether making of order in breach of separation of powers - DH v Groarke [2002] 3 IR 524, DPP v Sweeney [2001] 4 IR 102, Ward v Special Criminal Court [1999] 1 IR 60, JF v Reilly [2005] IEHC 198 (Unrep, Macken J, 10/06/2005), JF v Reilly [2007] IESC 32 [2008] 1 IR 753, PG v DPP [2006] IESC 19 [2007] 3 IR 39, DPP v Flynn [1996] 1 ILRM 317, Conlon v Kelly [2001] ILRM 198, DPP v SK (Unrep, Circuit Court, Judge Dunne, 14/12/1999), Nolan v Irish Land Commission [1981] IR 23, DPP v JB [2006] IESC 66 (Unrep, Supreme Court, 29/11/2006), O'Callaghan v Mahon [2005] IESC 9 & [2005] IEHC 265 [2006] 2 IR 32, Jespers v Belgium [1981] 27 DR 61, Rowe & Davis v United Kingdom (2000) 30 EHRR 1, DPP v Browne [2008] IEHC 391 (Unrep, McMahon J, 9/12/2008), DPP v McCarthy [2007] IECCA 64 [2008] 3 IR 1, DPP v Kelly [1987] IR 596, R v Collister and Warhurst (1995) 39 Cr App R 100, R v Parks [1961] 1 WLR 1484, R v Paraskeva (1982) 76 Cr App R 162, Braddish v DPP [2001] 3 IR 127, Dunne v DPP [2002] 2 IR 305, Scully v DPP [2005] IESC 11 [2005] 1 IR 242, McFarlane v DPP [2006] IESC 11 [2007] 1 IR 134, Whelan v Kirby [2004] IESC 17 & [2004] IESC 66 [2005] 2 IR 30, McGonnell v AG [2004] IEHC 312 (Unrep, McKechnie J, 16/9/2004), Traynor v Delahunt [2008] IEHC 272 [2009] 1 IR ???, BJ v DPP [2003] 4 IR 525, DPP v GK (Unrep, Court of Criminal Appeal, 06/06/2002), DPP v JT (1988) 3 Frewen 141, X and Y v Netherlands (1986) 8 EHRR 235, DPP (Walsh) v Cash [2007] IEHC 108 (Unrep, Charleton J, 28/3/2007), DPP v Tuite (1983) 2 Frewen 175, R v Ward [1993] 1 WLR 619, Healy v DPP [2007] IEHC 87 (Unrep, McGovern J, 13/3/2007), Dodd v DPP [2007] IEHC 97 (Unrep, McGovern J, 13/3/2007), Edwards v United Kingdom 15 EHRR 417, R v PJO'N [2001] NICC 5, R v Boucher [1955] SCR 326, DPP v Special Criminal Court [1999] 1 IR 60, McKevitt v DPP (Unrep, SC, 18/03/2003), McKevitt v DPP [2005] IECCA 139 (Unrep, CCA, 09/12/2005), R v Ward (1993) 96 Cr App R 1, R v Keane [1994] 1 WLR 746, DPP v Gilligan [2005] IESC 78 [2006] 1 IR 107, Z v DPP [1994] 2 IR 476, D v DPP [1994] 2 IR 465, Blanchfield v Hartnett [2002] 3 IR 207, R (Martin) v Mahoney [1910] 2 IR 695, State (Healy) v Donoghue [1976] IR 325, In re Criminal Law (Jurisdiction) Bill 1975 [1977] IR 129, Kelly v O'Neill [2000] 1 IR 354, DPP v O'Shea [1982] IR 384, DPP v Quilligan (No 2) [1989] IR 46, B v DPP [1997] 3 IR 140, PC v DP [1999] 2 IR 25, Bowes and McGrath v DPP (Unrep, Supreme Court, 6/2/2003), RD Cox Ltd v Owners of MV Fritz Raabe [2002] 1 ILRM 532, O'Doherty v AG [1941] IR 569, State (Quinn) v Ryan [1965] IR 70, Sinnott v Minster for Education [2001] 2 IR 549, MM v PM [1986] ILRM 515, Buckley v AG [1950] IR 67, O'Reilly v Limerick Corporation [1989] ILRM 181, TD v Minister for Education [2001] 4 IR 259, FN v Minister for Education [1995] 1 IR 409, DG v Eastern Health Board [1997] 3 IR 511, DB v Minister for Justice [1999] 1 IR 29, Crotty v An Taoiseach [1987] IR 713, McKenna v An Taoiseach (No 2) [1995] 2 IR 10, McMenamin v Ireland [1996] 3 IR 100, DPP v O'Shea [1982] IR 384, DPP v Shaw [1982] IR 1, Doyle v Commissioner of An Garda Síochána [1999] 1 IR 249, Megaleasing UK Ltd v Barrett [1993] ILRM 497 and Lord Montague v Dudman 2 Ves Sen 396 considered - Courts of Justice Act 1947 (No 20), s 16 - Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Act 1961 (No 39), ss 11 and 25 - European Convention on Human Rights Act 2003 (No 20), ss 1, 2 and 3 - Constitution of Ireland, articles 15, 28, 34, 38.1 and 40.4.1 - European Convention on Human Rights, art 6 - Rules of the Superior Courts 1986 (SI 15/1986) O 31 - Disclosure order quashed (2008/646JR - Edwards J - 22/5/2009) [2009] IEHC 242

HSE v White

Facts: An application had been brought by the third named notice party seeking the disclosure of certain documents from the applicant who was a non-party to certain criminal proceedings taken. The second and third named notice parties were the family and daughter of a deceased woman who was alleged to have died from neglect and malnourishment. An independent review was commission by the applicant as to the circumstances of the death of the woman. The second and third named notice parties were then charged with the unlawful killing of the woman and then sought disclosure of various documentary materials relating to the investigation. An order was made in the Circuit Court directing the Health Services Executive to make available to the Director of Public Prosecutions inter alia all material made available to the investigation. The applicant had obtained leave for judicial review and various orders in respect of orders granted by the respondent. The applicant submitted that they were not a party to the criminal proceedings and that the duty of disclosure did not extend beyond the prosecution to non-parties. The issue arose as to the inherent jurisdiction of the courts and the applicable precedent to the proceedings.

Held by Edwards J. That the circumstances did not exist for the trial judge to fashion a novel remedy in the absence of a sound jurisdictional basis. The respondent had exceeded his jurisdiction and a Declaration would be granted, in addition to an order of certiorari.

Reporter: E.F.

NON-FATAL OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON ACT 1997 S13

CONSTITUTION ART 38

EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS & FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS ART 6

EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS & FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS ART 13

COURTS OF JUSTICE ACT 1947 S16

CONSTITUTION ART 40

CONSTITUTION ART 38.1

DPP & WARD v SPECIAL CRIMINAL COURT 1999 1 IR 60

DPP v SWEENEY 2001 4 IR 102 2002 1 ILRM 532 2001/8/2166

H (D) v JUDGE GROARKE & DPP 2002 3 IR 522 2002/12/2955

F (J) v JUDGE REILLY & DPP 2008 1 IR 753 2008 1 ILRM 105 2007/22/4631 2007 IESC 32

RSC O.31 r12

SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE ACT (IRL) 1877

COURTS OF JUSTICE ACT 1924

COURTS OF JUSTICE ACT 1926 S4

DPP v FLYNN & KEELY 1996 ILRM 317

CONLON v KELLY & DPP & SMYTH 2002 1 IR 10 2001 2 ILRM 198 2001/3/772

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 1967

F (J) v JUDGE REILLY & DPP UNREP MACKEN 10.6.2005 2005/24/4940 2005 IEHC 198

B (J) v DPP UNREP SUPREME 29.11.2006 2006/5/797 2006 IESC 66

ABRAHAMSON & DWYER & FITZPATRICK DISCOVERY & DISCLOSURE 2007 247

O'CALLAGHAN v JUDGE MAHON 2006 2 IR 32

JESPERS v BELGIUM 1983 5 EHRR CD 305 1982 27 DR 61

ROWE & DAVIS v UNITED KINGDOM 2000 30 EHRR 1

HEALTH ACT 2004 S6

DPP v JUDGE BROWNE UNREP MCMAHON 9.12.2008 2008 IEHC 391

DPP v MCCARTHY & ORS 2008 3 IR 1 2007/19/3965 2007 IECCA 64

WHELAN v KIRBY 2005 2 IR 30

MCGONNELL & QUINLAN & PURCELL v AG & DPP UNREP MCKECHNIE 16.9.2004 2004/34/7903 2004 IEHC 312

TRAYNOR v JUDGE DELAHUNT & ORS 2009 1 ILRM 113 2008 IEHC 272

DPP, PEOPLE v T (J) 3 FREWEN 141 1988/7/2089

EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS ACT 2003 S1

EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS ACT 2003 S2

X & Y v THE NETHERLANDS 1986 8 EHRR 235

DPP (WALSH) v CASH 2008 1 ILRM 443 2007/17/3461 2007 IEHC 108

F (J) v DPP 2005 2 IR 174 2005/24/4916 2005 IESC 24

DPP v TUITE 2 FREWEN 175 1983/8/2336

R v WARD (JUDITH THERESA) 1993 1 WLR 619 1993 2 AER 577 1993 96 CAR 1

CONSTITUTION ART 38.1

CONSTITUTION ART 40.4.1

R v BROWN (WINSTON) 1995 1 CAR 191 1994 1 WLR 1599

DPP v K (G) UNREP CCA 6.6.2002 2002/9/2100

G (P) v DPP 2007 3 IR 39 2006/26/5503 2006 IESC 19

HEALY v DPP UNREP MCGOVERN 13.3.2007 2007/29/5894 2007 IEHC 87

DODD v DPP UNREP MCGOVERN 13.3.2007 2007/15/2999 2007 IEHC 97

RSC O.31 r29

CONSTITUTION ART 38

ARCHBOLD & RICHARDSON ARCHBOLD CRIMINAL PLEADING EVIDENCE & PRACTICE 2008 PARA 16.83

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE & INVESTIGATIONS ACT 1996 (UK)

CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT 2003 (UK)

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE (ATTENDANCE OF WITNESSES) ACT 1965 S2

R v O'N (PJ) & O'N (M) UNREP GIRVAN 20.3.2001 2001 NICC 5

JUDICATURE (NORTHERN IRELAND) ACT 1978 S51A (UK)

CONSTITUTION ART 30.4

COURTS (SUPPLEMENTAL PROVISIONS) ACT 1961 S25

EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS ACT 2003 S3

EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS ACT 2003 S4

BOUCHER v THE QUEEN 1955 SCR 16

MCKEVITT v DPP & ANOR UNREP SUPREME 18.3.2003 2003/41/9889

R v KEANE (STEPHEN JOHN) 1994 1 WLR 746 1994 2 AER 478

DPP v GILLIGAN 2006 1 IR 107 2005/20/3987 2005 IESC 78

BLANCHFIELD v HARTNETT 2002 3 IR 207 2002 2 ILRM 435

R (MARTIN) v MAHONY 1910 2 IR 695

CONSTITUTION ART 40.3

HEALY, STATE v DONOGHUE 1976 IR 325

CRIMINAL LAW JURISDICTION BILL 1975, IN RE 1977 IR 129

KELLY v O'NEILL & BRADY 2000 1 IR 354 2000 1 ILRM 507 2000/11/4219

DPP, PEOPLE v O'SHEA 1982 IR 384 1983 ILRM 549

DPP, PEOPLE v QUILLIGAN & O'REILLY (NO 2) 1989 IR 46 1989 ILRM 245 1988/4/1026

D v DPP 1994 2 IR 465 1994 1 ILRM 435 1993/11/3372

Z v DPP 1994 2 IR 476 1994 2 ILRM 481 1994/7/1949

B v DPP 1997 3 IR 140 1998/1/138

C (P) v DPP 1999 2 IR 25 1998/2/527

BOWES & MCGRATH v DPP 2003 2 IR 25 2003/6/1129

CONSTITUTION ART 34.3.1

KELLY THE IRISH CONSTITUTION 4ED 2003 PARA 6.2.02

DPP, PEOPLE v SWEENEY ...