Overview
- MI5 admitted accessing Kearney’s communications data in 2006 and 2009, the Metropolitan Police accepted two accesses in 2012 and said data was later shared with another force, and the PSNI conceded illegality in numerous operations.
- The tribunal heard the PSNI built a detailed profile of Kearney that included family names, addresses, vehicle details, phone numbers, and an extensive log of his published work.
- Counsel for Kearney and the BBC said seven separate police or MI5 operations unlawfully obtained confidential communications data between 2006 and 2018, enabling authorities to map his contacts, locations, and interactions.
- Kearney seeks damages, with his lawyer proposing £10,000 from the PSNI plus an additional award against MI5, while the PSNI and MI5 accept declarations of wrongdoing but argue against compensation.
- Parts of the Investigatory Powers Tribunal hearing are being held in private, it is scheduled to conclude Thursday, and key disclosure gaps remain over the number, purposes, and retention of access requests.