A government department has admitted breaching data protection rules.

But a court has dismissed a businessman’s claim for damages in connection with the breach.

Richard Christian took his case to the small claims court against the Department of Economic Development - now renamed the Department for Enterprise - for personal injury and damages totalling up to £5,000.

In May last year, Mr Christian, of Bromet Road, Castletown, made a subject access request for personal data held by the DED.

The department was late in disclosing data and when he made a complaint to the Information Commissioner, the DED released further data.

In a judgment, the small claims court found the DED had breached the Data Protection Act by being 38 days late in producing the required documents.

But Deemster Sharon Roberts concluded the complainant had failed to prove damages and dismissed the claim for personal injuries.

The dispute focused on the registering of a company name.

Mr Christian, who runs Island Fire which supplies fire extinguishers and alarms, registered Walker Fire as a business name in January last year.

But in May the DED approved an application by Walker Fire (UK) Ltd for use as a business name here in the island.

Companies Registry threatened to de-register Mr Christian’s company, believing he ’may not be genuinely carrying on a business in the name of Walker Fire’.

Documents disclosed under the subject access request show the DED believed he had arranged to register the business name Walker Fire after becoming aware that Walker Fire had been awarded the government tender for fire extinguisher maintenance.

The Attorney General’s chambers subsequently said it would not be proceeding with the de-registration after the claimant provided evidence that his company was ’operating’.