Commenting on the judgment of the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland Jon Boutcher said: “I accept the Investigatory Powers Tribunal’s judgment that the PSNI authorisations were not in accordance with the law and were disproportionate. 

“I have been clear that I regard Mr Kearney as a thoroughly professional and impressive journalist, whom I have the utmost respect for. I wish to place on record my sincere apologies to Mr Kearney in this matter.

“Significant changes to practice and policy have already been made since these issues occurred, with the role of the Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office in independently authorising communications data requests, and the enhanced safeguards of the Judicial Commissioners in scrutinising requests involving those who may handle confidential information. 

“As a result of public concerns, I commissioned an independent review of PSNI’s covert authorisations by appointing Angus McCullough KC who had full and unfettered access to all material.  The subsequent McCullough Report and recommendations published in September 2025, together with the Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office statutory oversight and inspections, ensure that the recognised independence of journalism and the freedom of the press is proportionality balanced against any lawful and overriding law enforcement requirement.

“As a Police Service we are committed to ensuring that we learn from mistakes when they are made. We are committed to transparency and using the powers available to us in a way that is lawful and in the public interest.”