A 31-YEAR-OLD man is to be reported to prosecutors as part of a PSNI investigation into an anonymous Twitter troll account.
He was questioned by police on harassment claims and alleged offences relating to the Communications Act.
The probe relates to an account known as '@DonYeeoo', which was examined in an investigation into PSNI officers allegedly operating anonymous online troll accounts.
Several social media accounts are being investigated by the Police Ombudsman for offences including harassment, misconduct in public office and offences under the Data Protection Act.
Two police officers have been suspended as a result of wider investigations, and the ombudsman is sending a file to prosecutors.
The '@DonYeeoo' profile was initially among those examined by the ombudsman, but it was later referred back to the PSNI after it was established the person involved was not a police officer or employee.
In a statement to The Irish News last Tuesday, August 12, the PSNI confirmed a man was questioned and will be reported to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS).
"A 31-year-old male was interviewed by police last week in relation to offence of harassment and offences relating to the Communications Act," a police spokesman said.
"The male will be reported to the Public Prosecution Service, who will review the evidence and direct accordingly."
Police had initially refused to say whether anyone had been questioned, with a spokeswoman claiming it would be "inappropriate" to comment, but they later provided details.
An investigation was launched in 2017 into anonymous Twitter profiles disclosing sensitive policing information and sending abusive and offensive messages.
There were concerns information posted from the '@DonYeeoo' account appeared to relate to policing operations and may have been supplied by PSNI officers or staff.
The account's tweets included messages saying they would "spit on an SDLP LGBT canvasser".
Among those targeted by the account were Alliance leader Naomi Long and solicitor Kevin Winters of KRW Law.
Mr Winters welcomed the referral to the PPS, but said there were further questions over the alleged "supply of communications" from police sources.
"I welcome the development in terms of the referral to the PPS of the civilian, however there are other serious issues that need clarified, focusing around the supply of information," he said.
Two officers have been suspended since late 2017 as a result of the investigations.
Police said one was suspended in relation to complaints about online material, while a second was suspended "for an unrelated matter" after a "wider investigation following these complaints".
The Police Ombudsman's office said a file for the PPS is still being prepared.
"In some instances, it is alleged that a serving police officer has posted the 'offending' material. In others it is alleged that police officers have supplied personal information which has been posted," a spokesman said last month.
