Julian O’Neill News NI crime and justice correspondent
PA MediaA report to be published later today will reveal details about the use of surveillance against journalists by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).
It is likely to be critical of how the police used reporters’ telephone numbers to check for leaks of information.
The report, compiled by Angus McCullough KC, looks at PSNI practices between 2011 and 2024.
He was asked to conduct a review amidst concerns which arose during legal action brought by two Belfast journalists, Barry McCaffrey and Trevor Birney.
As well as journalists, Mr McCullough has looked at how covert measures may have been used against lawyers and others.
It is understood his report runs to around 200 pages.
Chief Constable Jon Boutcher has made political parties and the Northern Ireland Policing Board aware of the findings.
Part of the report deals with how journalists’ telephone numbers were used to check for any leaks from within the police.
It is thought Mr McCullough raises concerns about the scale of what have been dubbed “defensive operations”.
This is when reporters’ numbers were run through PSNI communication system records to identify any unauthorised contact with police officers or staff.
The review did not examine any cases currently being dealt with by the Investigatory Powers Tribunal.
Recently, MI5 admitted it had illegally obtained communications data from the mobile phone of journalist Vincent Kearney while he worked at the .
