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30/07/2026

MI5 and police spent years going through a journalist’s phone records, trying to expose his confidential sources. Julian O’Neill investigates how the unlawful snooping was exposed.

MI5 and police spent years snooping through the phone records of journalist Vincent Kearney, trying to find out who was giving him sensitive information. After those security services admitted the surveillance was unlawful and paid damages, Julian O’Neill investigates what they were up to, why they were in breach of the law and, crucially, why this case of state agencies spying on a journalist may not be an isolated example.

Release date:

29 minutes

On TV

Thursday22:40

Credits

RoleContributor
ReporterJulian O'Neill
ProducerDenise O'Connor
Assistant EditorChris Thornton
EditorGwyneth Jones

Broadcast

  • Thursday22:40