Northern Ireland

PSNI drops criminal probe into journalists arrested over Loughinisland film

Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey
Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey

A PSNI investigation into Belfast-based journalists Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey, who were arrested over confidential material they aired in a documentary, has been dropped.

In a statement, Mr Birney and Mr McCaffrey last night confirmed the controversial criminal investigation into material used in a film about the 1994 Loughinisland atrocity has now ended.

The development came after the High Court in Belfast heard a haul of journalistic documents and equipment that police inappropriately seized from two documentary makers are available for them to reclaim.

Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland Sir Declan Morgan last week said the granting of the search warrants as part of the investigation was "inappropriate" and the two journalists acted in a perfectly proper manner to protect their sources and not hand over the information voluntarily.

The pair last night welcomed the decision to drop the probe.

"The police have dropped the case for one reason only: Finally, they accept that by arresting us and raiding our homes and offices, they were the ones that acted unlawfully,” they said.

"At last, the penny has dropped for the Chief Constable, George Hamilton.”