Ex-BBC Journalist Awarded £20,000 After MI5 and PSNI Unlawfully Accessed Phone Data

A former BBC Northern Ireland journalist, Vincent Kearney, has been awarded £20,000 after MI5 and the PSNI unlawfully accessed communications data from his mobile phone, according to proceedings at the Investigatory Powers Tribunal. MI5 conceded it obtained the data on two occasions in 2006 and 2009, with the case also involving other police admissions of unlawful access. Kearney said the findings were deeply concerning and highlighted risks to journalists’ ability to protect confidential sources. The tribunal’s ruling follows wider concerns about surveillance practices targeting media workers.