The Investigatory Powers Tribunal has revealed MI5's unlawful surveillance of journalist Vincent Kearney, sparking serious concerns about press freedom.
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MI5 has confirmed it illegally spied on prominent RTÉ journalist Vincent Kearney. This admission emerged during a hearing of the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) in London, which examined serious allegations of unlawful covert surveillance.
Details of the unlawful surveillance
The IPT hearing, held on Monday, revealed that MI5 accessed data from Kearney’s phone unlawfully on two occasions—in 2006 and 2009—while he was with the BBC in Belfast.
Kearney is currently the Northern Ireland Editor for RTÉ, and the implications of this surveillance are significant.
A barrister representing Kearney stated that this development has “very obvious implications for MI5,” especially regarding the surveillance incidents from 2006 and 2009.
The barrister highlighted the potential repercussions for other related cases, as MI5 has maintained a policy of ‘neither confirm nor deny’ (NCND) to avoid disclosing sensitive information.
Previous cases of unlawful surveillance
Kearney’s situation is not isolated. It arises amid ongoing proceedings involving two other Belfast journalists, Barry McCaffrey and Trevor Birney, who also experienced unlawful surveillance by police forces.
An earlier ruling from the IPT found that both the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the Metropolitan Police acted illegally in their attempts to spy on McCaffrey and Birney to identify their sources.
Kearney expressed alarm over the matter, describing it as “unprecedented” and “deeply concerning” for himself and the wider press community. Such violations of privacy prompt critical questions about the safety and freedom of journalists, particularly in politically sensitive environments.
Reactions and implications for press freedom
MI5’s admission has sparked substantial discussions about the limits of surveillance and the protection of journalistic integrity. As Kearney and his legal team prepare to address the fallout from this revelation, the incident underscores the urgent need for transparency and accountability in state surveillance practices.
As this story develops, the public and media organizations are calling for stricter regulations and oversight concerning government surveillance of journalists. The implications extend beyond Kearney, potentially affecting how journalists operate, particularly in regions with heightened scrutiny from authorities.
UPDATE AT [time]: As more information becomes available, the focus remains on ensuring that journalists’ rights are upheld and protected against unlawful surveillance tactics.
