Tribunal Rules Covert Surveillance of Journalists Unlawful in Northern Ireland Case
A tribunal has ruled that a covert surveillance operation authorized by former Police Service of Northern Ireland chief constable George Hamilton was unlawful. The Investigatory Powers Tribunal awarded £4,000 in damages each to journalists Barry McCaffrey and Trevor Birney, who were previously subject to surveillance while investigating a confidential document about a 1994 massacre. The ruling highlighted the necessity for a public inquiry into police surveillance of journalists, as both McCaffrey and Birney continue to seek accountability.