RTÉ journalist whose data unlawfully gained should get damages, tribunal toldBy Jess Glass, Press Association Law EditorA former BBC journalist whose communications data was unlawfully obtained should be awarded “substantial” damages, a specialist tribunal has been told. MI5 previously admitted that it had unlawfully obtained Vincent Kearney’s data amid proceedings at the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT). He also said that the phone data obtained would have enabled the police “to see who Mr Kearney was interacting with, where and when”. Bunting later said that Kearney should be awarded £10,000 from the PSNI in damages, with an “additional award against MI5″. The barrister also said MI5 accepted that the tribunal should make a declaration but opposed damages being awarded.

Source: Irish Independent February 25, 2026 17:12 UTC