Attorney General's Chambers
9 FOI requests | Full disclosure rate: 377.8%
The Freedom of Information requests to the Isle of Man Attorney General's Chambers reveal an authority that is highly responsive to specific, factual queries regarding staffing, software costs, and high-profile charity oversight, yet systematically opaque regarding policy formulation, legal aid reform, and the evidentiary basis of criminal law. A recurring theme is the 'information not held' response, particularly concerning prosecution statistics (cases 379034, 2264429) and the scientific justification for drug scheduling (case 1623265), which suggests a fragmented data infrastructure where the AG's Chambers does not centrally aggregate operational policing data. However, this opacity is not absolute; the authority has been compelled to release sensitive contract details regarding legislative drafting (case 3992277) and has disclosed significant financial data on legal costs for defending public officials (cases 2021153, 2441298), indicating that while policy documents are often shielded by privilege or claimed non-existence, financial trails are increasingly visible.
Key Cases
Case 3992277 — This case represents a significant victory for transparency where the Information Commissioner overruled the Attorney General's Chambers' blanket refusal to release contracts with 'SEA PEGASUS DRAFTING SERVICES,' forcing the disclosure of cost-benefit analyses and unredacted contracts regarding legislative drafting.
Case 1216681 — Highlights a major conflict of interest in 'Operation Braid' involving former AG John Quinn. The authority confirmed the involvement of a UK barrister but successfully withheld specific details of the conflict under FOI exemptions, raising questions about accountability in high-level fraud investigations.
Case 4714237 — Provides concrete evidence of regulatory friction with King William's College, disclosing significant delays and re-submissions of annual accounts from 2021-2023, contrasting with the authority's frequent 'information not held' responses in other charity-related requests.
Case 1623265 — A notable refusal where the AG's Chambers admitted they do not hold the scientific or legislative foundation evidence justifying the classification of cannabis as a Schedule 1 drug, exposing a potential gap in the evidentiary basis for current drug laws.
Case 2374877 — Involves a partial upholding of a request for a legal aid review report by the late AG John Quinn. The authority refused release citing 'future publication' exemptions, arguing that premature disclosure would compromise policy formulation, a controversial stance on internal reviews.
Related FOI Stories
Legal Aid and Public Defence Scrutiny — #379139, #2374877, #2176273, #2176274, #2221316
High-Profile Litigation and Settlement Costs — #2021153, #2009761, #2441298, #2603077, #2374877
Criminal Justice Statistics and Drug Policy — #379034, #2264429, #1623265, #3937873, #3937874
Charity Regulation and Financial Oversight — #1746173, #3086365, #4714237, #4749973, #3984737
Legislative Drafting and External Contractors — #3356165, #3992277, #2572689, #1722493
| Date | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-03 | Correspondence between AG's chambers and UK Ministry of Justice | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made for correspondence between the Attorney General's Chambers and the UK Ministry of Justice regarding the Assisted Dying Bill 2023 since February 2025. The authority confirmed holding the information but refused disclosure citing legal professional privilege and international relations exemptions. | ||
| 2025-08-05 | Documentation including electronic, in possession, custody or control. | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The applicant requested instructions given by the Attorney General's Chambers to DEFA regarding a 2019 appeal and 2020-2021 ADS application processing. The authority refused to release information, stating they do not hold the records and that any such advice would be subject to legal professional privilege. | ||
| 2023-01-25 | perceptive software | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| 2022-05-31 | General Gaol | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made for the verdict on Christian Louie Lima, but the Attorney General's Chambers withheld the information under an absolute exemption because it is accessible through the Courts of Justice. | ||
| 2020-11-24 | Criminal Investigation Involving Isle of Man Judiciary | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The requester asked for the identity of an independent barrister and correspondence regarding a criminal investigation involving the Isle of Man Judiciary. The Attorney General's Chambers refused to disclose any information, citing exemptions related to ongoing criminal proceedings and potential prejudice to the investigation. | ||
| 2020-11-23 | Criminal Investigation Involving Isle of Man Judiciary | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made for details regarding the transfer of an ongoing criminal investigation involving the Isle of Man Judiciary to the United Kingdom Crown. The Attorney General's Chambers refused to disclose any information, citing exemptions related to ongoing criminal proceedings. | ||
| 2017-12-06 | Request for details relating to the creation of a public defence unit | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made for all documentation regarding the creation of a public defence unit, but the Attorney General's Chambers withheld all information citing exemptions related to the conduct of public business and information already accessible by other means. | ||
| 2017-10-30 | Accounts of the Rest of old Horses and the MSPCA | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made for the accounts of the Rest of old Horses and the MSPCA, but no information was disclosed because the data is already reasonably accessible to the public via the Department of Economic Development. | ||
| 2017-06-30 | Report DHSC management of case files & relationships with service user | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made for a report on the management of case files and relationships with service users in the Department of Health and Social Care, but the information was withheld as it is exempt under section 41 of the Act pending future publication. | ||