Northern Ireland

McCullough PSNI snooping report cost ‘in the region of’ £750,000

Review confirms PSNI spy operations targeting journalists

The launch of A report about the use of surveillance against journalists by the Police Service of Northern Ireland. PICTURE COLM LENAGHAN
PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher and Angus McCullough KC at the launch of a report last week about the use of surveillance against journalists. PICTURE COLM LENAGHAN
By Connla Young, Crime and Security Correspondent

A major review into the extent of PSNI surveillance cost in the region of £750,000, members of the Policing board have been told.

The McCullough Review has revealed that the PSNI carried out a “defensive operation” involving hundreds of journalists over a 13-year period.

Headed by London based barrister Angus McCullough KC, the review also confirms 21 unlawful uses of covert powers to attempt to identify journalists’ sources – more than double the figure provided to the Policing Board last year.

It has emerged that eight journalists were subject to unlawful use of powers to identify their sources.

It is now known that lawyers were also placed under surveillance, including Darragh Mackin and Peter Corrigan, of Phoenix Law.

They say the safety of the convictions of two men, Brendan McConville and John Paul Wootton, jailed for the murder of PSNI officer Stephen Carroll in 2009 “must be re-examined” after it emerged the PSNI spied on them.

The case of two other well-known Belfast solicitors, Kevin Winters and Barry O’Donnell, both of KRW Law was not considered by Mr McCullough as it is part of ongoing proceedings at the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT).

The (IPT) examines complaints from people who believe they have been the victim of unlawful covert interference by state agencies.

Members of the Policing Board met on Tuesday to discuss the content of the report.

It is understood members of the board have been told the cost of the review was in the region of £750,000.

It is believed board members are considering if they should order what is known as a Section 60 inquiry, which allows the board to hold an inquiry following a report by the Chief Constable.

While Sinn Féin has said it is “actively considering pursuing a Section 60 inquiry” other parties have called for a public inquiry into the activities of intelligence agencies, including MI5.

In relation to the cost of the McCullough Review, spokeswoman for the PSNI said the “the final cost is not yet known”.