BBC News

MI5 'illegally obtained communications data' from phone of former BBC journalist Vincent Kearney

BelfastTelegraph.co.uk

Calls for urgent action after MI5 illegally monitored ex-BBC NI journalists phone

The Irish News

MI5 admit to spying on Belfast-based journalist Vincent Kearney

Independent

MI5 admits it unlawfully obtained data from ex-BBC journalist

RTE.ie

MI5 admits it unlawfully obtained journalist's data twice

The Telegraph

MI5 unlawfully obtained data from journalists phone

Guardian

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

Amnesty International

Northern Ireland: MI5 broke human rights law by accessing BBC journalists phone records

Investigatory Powers Tribunal

McCaffrey and Birney v PSNI and others

Society of Editors UK

SoE deeply alarmed by MI5 admission on illegally obtained data  Society of Editors

House of Commons

Securityserviceevidenc

U.K. intelligence agency MI5 has admitted that it had illegally obtained communications data from a former BBC journalist as part of a judicial investigation by the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT).

U.K. intelligence agency MI5 has admitted that it had illegally obtained communications data from a former BBC journalist as part of a judicial investigation by the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT).

The investigation by the IPT comes after lawyers for the BBC wrote to the body requesting a hearing regarding its former journalist Vincent Kearney last year.

The investigation by the IPT comes 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 the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) had unlawfully spied on two journalists and filmmakers, Barry McCaffrey and Trevor Birney.

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

Within submissions to the tribunal, MI5 conceded that it had twice unlawfully accessed Kearney's communications data in 2006 and 2009, a breach of Article 8 and Article 10 of the European Convention of Human Rights.

Within submissions to the tribunal, MI5 conceded that it had twice unlawfully accessed Kearney's communications data in 2006 and 2009, a breach of Article 8 and Article 10 of the European Convention of Human Rights.

Jude Bunting KC, representing the BBC and Kearney, stated that "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."

Jude Bunting KC, representing the BBC and Kearney, stated that "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 publication 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 publication RTÉ, called the admission "unprecedented" and said it was "deeply concerning," adding he would continue to press for answers for himself and other journalists.

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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.

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.

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.

The admission that MI5 rifled through a journalist's phone is deeply concerning and should worry anyone who cares about democracy and press freedom. What's worse is that this does not appear to be an isolated act but part of a pattern of continued disregard for the right of journalists to have their sources protected. There needs to be a full investigation and accountability.

The admission that MI5 rifled through a journalist's phone is deeply concerning and should worry anyone who cares about democracy and press freedom. What's worse is that this does not appear to be an isolated act but part of a pattern of continued disregard for the right of journalists to have their sources protected. There needs to be a full investigation and accountability.

There is a 15% chance that Northern Ireland will hold a reunification referendum before 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There is a 15% chance that Northern Ireland will hold a reunification referendum before 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Metaculus2

Northern Irish Reunification Referendum 2030

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

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

United Kingdom

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Police

Crime & justice

Freedom & human rights

Freedom of press

MI5's staff perform vital work protecting Britain from serious threats. However, recent failures demand urgent reform. Director General McCallum's comprehensive review program and cultural shifts represent essential first steps in meaningful change. The public deserves absolute confidence in the integrity of its security services as it continues to shield the public from a dangerous world.

MI5's staff perform vital work protecting Britain from serious threats. However, recent failures demand urgent reform. Director General McCallum's comprehensive review program and cultural shifts represent essential first steps in meaningful change. The public deserves absolute confidence in the integrity of its security services as it continues to shield the public from a dangerous world.

The admission that MI5 rifled through a journalist's phone is deeply concerning and should worry anyone who cares about democracy and press freedom. What's worse is that this does not appear to be an isolated act but part of a pattern of continued disregard for the right of journalists to have their sources protected. The full rot at the heart of MI5 must be fully exposed.

The admission that MI5 rifled through a journalist's phone is deeply concerning and should worry anyone who cares about democracy and press freedom. What's worse is that this does not appear to be an isolated act but part of a pattern of continued disregard for the right of journalists to have their sources protected. The full rot at the heart of MI5 must be fully exposed.

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

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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