Breaking News: MI5 and PSNI Ordered to Pay Journalist £20,000
MI5 and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) have been ordered to pay £20,000 in damages to journalist Vincent Kearney for illegally obtaining his phone records. This ruling comes from the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) in London.
Kearney, a former BBC journalist, claimed that secret operations were conducted to discover his confidential sources while he worked at the BBC in Belfast. This marks the first time MI5 has been directed to compensate a journalist.
In a statement, Kearney expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision, highlighting the importance of accountability for agencies enforcing the law. The BBC, which supported Kearney in the case, welcomed the judgment as significant for protecting journalists’ rights.
Kearney worked for BBC Northern Ireland for 18 years until 2019, when he joined RTÉ as its northern editor. Between 2006 and 2014, multiple operations targeted him, including four run by the PSNI, which created a profile on him that detailed personal information.
The case underscores concerns about surveillance and the protection of journalistic freedom.
