MI5 agent murder report led to secret police phone checks
The family of murdered MI5 agent Denis Donaldson is raising concerns after revelations that police monitored the phone of journalist Brian Rowan in 2006. The surveillance was part of an operation to identify sources following reports on the agent's death.
Why it matters
This case raises significant questions regarding press freedom, state surveillance, and the ethics of intelligence operations during peace processes.
Image source, PA Media Image caption, Denis Donaldson was seen as a key figure in Sinn Fein's rise as a political party
Crime and justice correspondent, BBC News NI Published 3 hours ago The family of murdered agent Denis Donaldson have said they are concerned that police ran checks on a reporter's mobile phone after he wrote a story on the killing.
BBC Spotlight has revealed new details about call monitoring of the phone of former BBC security editor Brian Rowan.
Mr Donaldson was a police and MI5 agent within Sinn Fein.
PSNI chief constable Jon Boutcher has offered to meet Rowan, who said the police have told him nothing about the operation against him in 2006.
He learned of their actions from the BBC, as part of a case it took with journalist Vincent Kearney at the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT).
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