In a historic legal ruling, MI5 and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) have been ordered to pay £20,000 in damages for the illegal monitoring of former BBC journalist Vincent Kearney. The Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) found that the agencies had improperly accessed his phone records in an attempt to uncover his confidential sources.
Kearney, who served as a BBC correspondent covering security issues in Belfast from 2006 to 2014, was targeted in several covert operations. These actions allowed authorities to track his call history, locations, and the identities of his contacts. The tribunal concluded that these measures were disproportionate and violated privacy laws, marking the first time MI5 has been required to compensate a journalist for such behavior.
The journalist expressed satisfaction with the verdict, emphasizing that the case was primarily about accountability and protecting the integrity of journalistic sources. He noted that the surveillance had created a chilling effect, making it difficult for him to maintain the trust of those providing information on public interest matters. Following the ruling, PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher offered an apology, admitting that the surveillance was unlawful and that policy changes have since been implemented.
