More than 4,000 phone communications between 12 journalists were monitored by police over a three-month period, it has emerged.
Details of the huge snooping operation focusing on journalist-to-journalist interactions have emerged as the PSNI spy scandal continues to widen.
Until now the force had claimed that the surveillance of journalists was carried out in a bid to root out malpractice in its own ranks.
In a report to the Policing Board last month the PSNI admitted making 823 applications for communications data for journalists and lawyers over a 13-year period from 2011-2024.
The report claimed 10 applications sought to identify a journalistic source using covert powers.
It has now emerged that an English police force was also involved in spying on journalists in the north during the period.
It is understood around 4,000 communications, including text messages and the location of calls made were logged.
The surveillance covered the period between July-October 2011 and focused on 12 journalists and others involved in the media.
The group targeted includes several well-known award-winning investigative journalists.
It is understood that those placed under surveillance were investigating matters linked to policing, including respected journalists Barry McCaffrey and Trevor Birney.
It is not known if the English police force at the centre of the latest snooping revelations did so at the request of the PSNI.
When asked, the PSNI did not respond directly.
A spokeswoman said it is co-operating with the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) and the Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office, adding it would be “inappropriate for us to comment while legal proceedings and the McCullough Review are ongoing”.
PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher recently established a snooping review, which will be carried out by London based lawyer Angus McCullough KC.
While the review was initially intended to focus on journalists, lawyers and non-governmental organisations, it has since been widened to include the Policing Board and Police Ombudsman.
Details of the unravelling spy scandal came to light through the London-based IPT, which is examining allegations that Mr McCaffrey and Mr Birney, were subjected to unlawful surveillance.
The pair made a complaint to the IPT in 2019 over their arrest the previous year in connection with an acclaimed 2017 documentary about the UVF sectarian murder of six men at the Heights Bar in Loughinisland, Co Down, in June 1994.
The IPT looks at complaints from people who believe they have been the victim of unlawful covert interference.
A third journalist, RTÉ's Vincent Kearney, who previously worked with the BBC in Belfast, is also known to have been placed under surveillance.
At a hearing in London last week the IPT refused an application for Mr Kearney’s case to be formally joined with that of Mr McCaffrey and Mr Birney.
During the hearing several respondents, including MI5 and GCHQ (General Communication Headquarters), which carries out surveillance on behalf of the British state, claimed they need until December to check their records against the names of 16 BBC journalists alleged to have been placed under surveillance.
It is understood part of that hearing took place behind closed doors with the media, members of the public and Mr McCaffrey and Mr Birney’s legal teams barred from taking part.
A spokesman for the BBC said: “The President of the Investigatory Powers Tribunal has said that claims by the BBC and Vincent Kearney will be heard separately and at a later date.
“We welcome these comments – reflecting our view that serious issues of public interest are engaged, including in relation to the adverse effects that surveillance may have on BBC journalism and its freedoms and journalistic activity more generally.”
Mr McCaffrey, who it is known was under surveillance at various times between 2008-2018, said the latest revelation “shows the absolute need for a public inquiry which has the powers to call serving and retired police officers”.
“We were initially told by chief constable Jon Boucher last year that less than 10 journalists had been spied on and that it was only carried out to catch PSNI whistle-blower and dodgy police officers, that number then increased to 320 journalists now it’s 4,000 texts and phone calls belong to 12 journalists.
“Where does this stop?”
Mr McCaffrey said it is unknown how far the snooping scandal extends.
“We do not know if this spying against the media was taking place across the UK,” he said.
“Only a full public inquiry can find out the whole truth.
“If the police have nothing to hide then how can they block a public inquiry.”
Mr Birney aded: “Once again, this speaks to the PSNI’s determination to find journalists sources. It’s clear they’ve had an unhealthy obsession with journalists. But we have no idea why the PSNI and the (English police force) decided to target these 12 journalists and what it was they were looking for in their communications.
“No one has been able to explain what was going on.”
Mr Birney also called for a public inquiry.
“We hope to get the truth of this from the IPT but it’s clear that police actions against journalists and lawyers can only be properly excavated through a full public inquiry,” he said.
Niall Murphy, of KRW Law, who represents Mr Birney, said: “The disclosure received as part of the IPT case have revealed a shocking litany of surveillance, the industrial scale of which is terrifying.
“What is also frightening, is the material which has been withheld on the basis that it is so sensitive.”
Mr Murphy said members of the media should be concerned.
“Every journalist working in this jurisdiction should be appalled and concerned as to whether they also have been a victim of this routine harvesting of protected confidential information and I encourage anyone who reposes such concerns to engage immediately with the Angus McCullough Review,” he said.
