An insurance company has appealed to the High Court against an award of €15,000 damages to a man over breach of his data protection rights.

FBD Insurance claims painter and decorator Michael Collins suffered no loss from the admitted breach after he made a claim when his work van was stolen outside his home at Mellowes Park, Finglas, Dublin, in September 2008.

Mr Collins said he lost work due to not having the van until it was recovered three months later, when he withdrew his claim. During that period FBD, on the basis of confidential information on him which it failed to disclose to him in accordance with data protection law, declined to deal with his claim, he said.