A week ago, the Belfast Telegraph revealed allegations that the PSNI has spied on a journalist as he investigated the death of 14-year-old schoolboy Noah Donohoe.
Sam McBride revealed claims that journalist Donal MacIntyre was put under significant surveillance in August 2023.
MacIntyre also claimed that his car was broken into in London last October in highly unusual circumstances, with sensitive information about his investigation disturbed.
The PSNI didn’t deny any of this, and for five days after that article was published, it remained silent.
Now, Chief Constable Jon Boutcher has emerged to admit that the PSNI began taking an interest in Mr MacIntyre right at the point where our source claimed the spying began.
Speaking in a meeting of the policing board on Thursday, he denied this involved intrusive surveillance and also denied the PSNI broke into his car. He said the PSNI only accessed information that was publicly posted on two X accounts.
So what really went on here? Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Belfast Telegraph’s Northern Ireland editor, Sam McBride.
PSNI Chief Constable denies intrusive surveillance on journalist investigating Noah Donohoe death, Sam McBride reports
