A BBC journalist, Vincent Kearney, was subjected to an extensive and unlawful surveillance campaign by the police and MI5 over an eight-year period. The authorities aimed to uncover his sources, which raised concerns about the integrity of his journalism. The case, brought before the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT), revealed that multiple police forces and MI5 obtained Kearney's communications data, violating his rights under the European Convention on Human Rights. The IPT learned that the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the Metropolitan Police were involved, with the PSNI alone accessing information related to 1,580 calls or texts made by Kearney. The BBC and Kearney's legal team emphasized the unprecedented scale of interference with journalistic material, highlighting a systematic pattern of accessing sources over many years. Kearney, now working at RTÉ, expressed shock at the extent of the surveillance, claiming it was unique in the UK and Ireland. The intrusion had a chilling effect on his work, damaging relationships with sources and colleagues. The Home Office acknowledged the historical nature of the case and updated legislation to protect journalists and their sources, but the damage to Kearney's career and reputation remains a significant concern.
