MI5 Ordered to Pay Damages for First Time Over Unlawful Surveillance of Journalist

The Investigatory Powers Tribunal ruled on July 23, 2026 that MI5 and the PSNI unlawfully obtained journalist Vincent Kearney's phone data across seven operations spanning 2006–2018. Each agency was ordered to pay £10,000. It is the first time the IPT — a specialist court overseeing UK spy agencies — has directed MI5 to pay damages. PSNI's chief constable accepted the ruling and apologised.