Jon Boutcher, PSNI Chief Constable, stated at the Policing Board that Vincent Kearney, a former BBC journalist, was never a suspect in any PSNI investigations. He viewed Kearney as an outstanding journalist who did nothing wrong.

A 2013 PSNI authorisation document labelled Kearney a suspect. It requested his phone records, including calls and subscriber details, to identify confidential sources. The request formed part of Operation Samarium, an investigation into allegations of corrupt payments to a senior PSNI manager.

Police obtained phone records of Barry McCaffrey, a former Detail journalist, during Operation Samarium. Those records were obtained unlawfully, and McCaffrey was described as a suspect.

Boutcher said evidence from the Investigatory Powers Tribunal aligned with the McCullough Review. The review found PSNI surveillance of journalists was not widespread or systemic. It excluded active IPT cases.

Boutcher rejected calls for a public inquiry. He said no public inquiry was needed.

Boutcher declined to discuss a PSNI profile on Kearney due to ongoing tribunal proceedings. The profile listed Kearney's date of birth, addresses, phone numbers, vehicle details, family names, household occupants, article count, and report topics. Boutcher said there should be no PSNI examination of Kearney or his family.

Patrick Corrigan of Amnesty Northern Ireland criticised Boutcher for minimising PSNI actions against Kearney and McCaffrey. Corrigan called for a public inquiry into MI5 and police surveillance in Northern Ireland.

Mukesh Sharma, Policing Board chair, said the board was carrying out its accountability role.