Chief Constable Jon Boutcher informed the Northern Ireland Policing Board that the PSNI should not have conducted any examination of former BBC journalist Vincent Kearney or his family. He delivered these remarks during a public meeting on Thursday.

Boutcher noted that codes of practice in place from 2007 did not adequately protect journalists and lawyers from surveillance requests related to call data.

MI5 acknowledged in a September 2025 letter to Kearney, now RTE northern editor, and the BBC that it unlawfully acquired his communications data in 2006 and 2009. The PSNI and Metropolitan Police issued similar acknowledgments.

A report by Angus McCullough KC, published last year, identified over 20 PSNI efforts to pinpoint journalists' sources. The report concluded such actions were neither widespread nor systemic.

Sinn Fein MLA Linda Dillon inquired why the PSNI compiled a profile on Kearney and his family. She also asked if profiles existed for other journalists or professionals.

SDLP MLA Colin McGrath stated the McCullough report omitted certain instances and questioned whether Boutcher favored an independent inquiry.

Boutcher avoided details on Kearney's case due to ongoing proceedings. He affirmed Kearney holds high integrity, committed no wrongdoing, and was never a suspect in PSNI investigations.