Guardian

MI5 concedes it ‘unlawfully’ obtained data from former BBC journalist

Independent

MI5 admits it unlawfully obtained data from ex-BBC journalist

MI5, Britain's internal security agency, admitted that it illegally obtained communications data from a former BBC journalist, a court in London heard on Monday.

BBC News

BelfastTelegraph.co.uk

MI5, Britain's internal security agency, admitted that it illegally obtained communications data from a former BBC journalist, a court in London heard on Monday.

The hearing of the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT), which investigates allegations of wrongdoing by the UK's intelligence services, came after lawyers for the BBC wrote to the body requesting a hearing regarding its former journalist Vincent Kearney last year.

The hearing of the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT), which investigates allegations of wrongdoing by the UK's intelligence services, came after lawyers for the BBC wrote to the body requesting a hearing regarding its former journalist Vincent Kearney last year.

Allegations of spying against Kearney, formerly the BBC's home affairs editor in Northern Ireland, emerged from previous IPT proceedings that ruled last year that the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) unlawfully spied on two journalists and filmmakers, Barry McCaffrey and Trevor Birney.

The Irish News

Allegations of spying against Kearney, formerly the BBC's home affairs editor in Northern Ireland, emerged from previous IPT proceedings that ruled last year that the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) unlawfully spied on two journalists and filmmakers, Barry McCaffrey and Trevor Birney.

The confirmation that Kearney was in fact spied on came from a lawyer representing him and the BBC. Jude Bunting KC told the court that in submissions from government lawyers, MI5 conceded that it had twice unlawfully accessed Kearney's communications data in 2006 and 2009, before the data was shared with PSNI. PSNI also conceded wrongdoing, he said.

ComputerWeekly.com

The confirmation that Kearney was in fact spied on came from a lawyer representing him and the BBC. Jude Bunting KC told the court that in submissions from government lawyers, MI5 conceded that it had twice unlawfully accessed Kearney's communications data in 2006 and 2009, before the data was shared with PSNI. PSNI also conceded wrongdoing, he said.

Bunting added that MI5 "accepted" it had breached Kearney's rights under Article 8 and 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, further stating: "This appears to be the first time in any tribunal proceedings in which MI5 publicly accept interference with a journalist's communications data, and also publicly accept that they acted unlawfully in doing so."

Bunting added that MI5 "accepted" it had breached Kearney's rights under Article 8 and 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, further stating: "This appears to be the first time in any tribunal proceedings in which MI5 publicly accept interference with a journalist's communications data, and also publicly accept that they acted unlawfully in doing so."

Kearney, now northern editor for Irish publicaiton RTÉ, called the admission "unprecedented" and said it was "deeply concerning," adding he would continue to press for answers for himself and other journalists.

Kearney, now northern editor for Irish publicaiton RTÉ, called the admission "unprecedented" and said it was "deeply concerning," adding he would continue to press for answers for himself and other journalists.

UK: MI5 Concedes it Unlawfully Obtained Journalist's Phone Data

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UK: MI5 Concedes it Unlawfully Obtained Journalist's Phone Data

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