MI5 'illegally obtained data' from ex-BBC journalist's phone

Vincent Kearney worked at the BBC for 17 years

The security service, MI5, has admitted that it illegally obtained communications data from the mobile phone of former BBC Northern Ireland home affairs correspondent Vincent Kearney.

In documents submitted to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, MI5 conceded it obtained the data from Mr Kearney's phone on two occasions in 2006 and 2009.

In a statement, Mr Kearney described the admission as "unprecedented" and said it was "deeply concerning" for himself and other journalists.

Mr Kearney said that his legal inquiries, backed by the BBC, would seek to establish as much detail as possible about the nature of the two instances of unlawful intrusion, and whether MI5 was responsible for any more.

A BBC spokesperson said: "MI5's admission that it illegally obtained communications data of a BBC journalist is a matter of grave concern.

"It raises serious and important questions that we will continue to pursue."

Mr Kearney became home affairs correspondent at BBC News NI in April 2006, having previously worked for the BBC NI Spotlight programme and as a producer in the Belfast newsroom.

Before that, he was political correspondent at the Belfast Telegraph.

Last year, it emerged that lawyers acting for the BBC had written to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal about alleged police surveillance of Mr Kearney.

He presented a programme about the Police Ombudsman's Office in 2011.

Mr Kearney's case emerged as part of proceedings involving two other Belfast journalists, Barry McCaffrey and Trevor Birney.

Mr Kearney is now the northern editor of RTÉ News

Sinn Féin assembly member Gerry Kelly said MI5 needed to be accountable.

"The government have to bring in an accountability mechanism which works," he said.

Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) leader Claire Hanna MP said: "The Policing Board must exercise its powers to conduct a forensic review of surveillance practices targeting local journalism and to examine any political interference by security actors, a clear abuse of power that cannot be justified."