Man convicted of terrorism offences over PSNI data breach

A man has been convicted of four terrorist offences linked to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) data breach in 2023.

Christopher Paul O’Kane, 53, from Iniscarn Road in Londonderry, had denied the preparation of terrorist acts and having articles in the use of terrorism, including mobile phones and a laptop.

He further denied having documents or records for use in terrorism, namely two spreadsheets containing details on serving PSNI officers and police staff officers.

At Belfast Crown Court on Monday, a senior judge convicted O’Kane before refusing a bail application and remanding him in custody ahead of sentencing.

The offences were committed on dates between 7 and 19 August 2023.

He had also pleaded not guilty to viewing videos online relating to improvised explosive devices and their detonation between 1 and 19 August 2023.

The data breach happened in August 2023, when the PSNI released the names of thousands of staff and officers by mistake, under a Freedom of Information (FoI) request.

Read more: BBC News