PSNI data breach: Derry man (50) in court over possession of documents

A man has appeared in court charged with two terrorism offences linked to the major Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) data leak in which personal and employment information of officers and civilian staff was published online.

Christopher Paul O’Kane (50), from Main Street in Feeny, Co Derry, is accused of possessing documents or records likely to be useful to terrorists and the possession of two mobile phones for use in terrorism.

On Monday a police officer told Coleraine Magistrates’ Court, sitting in Ballymena, that Mr O’Kane was arrested at his home on Friday and two phones were discovered in his bedroom.

The officer said the accused was in possession of a spreadsheet containing names from the data leak, and parts were highlighted which included information on specific officers.

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The court was also told Mr O’Kane had registered with a website that could be used to search for addresses using surnames, and police believe the defendant intended to use the data to attempt to identify the home addresses of those named.

The second phone contained images of explosive detonators, the court heard.

Mr O’Kane sat in the dock handcuffed to two police officers, and refused to stand when the charges were read to him.

A defence solicitor said there was no evidence the material had been used for any nefarious purposes or with any intent.

Police objected to bail based on the current heightened security situation.

Bail was refused, and Mr O’Kane was remanded in custody for four weeks.

Earlier this month the PSNI mistakenly released the surname, first initial and employment details – including where they work and their department – of every serving police officer and civilian member of staff alongside a response to a Freedom of Information request.

Following the leak dissident republicans claimed they had accessed the information, which was available online for several hours before it was removed.

Last week the Chief Constable, Simon Byrne, confirmed the details were now in the hands of dissident republicans after a section of the data – several A4 pages – appeared on a wall opposite the Sinn Féin office on the Falls Road in west Belfast.

A number of other data breaches have since come to light, including the loss of a police officer’s laptop and notebook which contained details of 42 officers and members of staff after the items fell from a moving vehicle last week.

The Chief Constable is due to meet with members of the scrutiny body the Policing Board later today (Tuesday) to receive an update on issues arising from the data breach on August 8th and “consider any further actions necessary,” the Policing Board said.

Members are also expected to question the Chief Constable on the details of the other data breaches which have emerged since their last meeting. – Additional reporting PA