Two journalists have been arrested as part of an investigation into the suspected theft of confidential documents from the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland (PONI). Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey produced the documentary No Stone Unturned about the murder of six men at Loughinisland in County Down in 1994.
The pair were arrested on Friday morning and released that evening. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) asked Durham Constabulary to conduct an independent investigation into the suspected theft of sensitive material used in the documentary.
Detectives from Durham Constabulary, supported by PSNI officers, searched two homes and a business premises in Belfast, seizing documents and computer equipment. However, the material will not be examined until the outcome of a legal challenge by Fine Point Films, the production company, which brought emergency proceedings to Belfast High Court challenging the search warrant's legality.
A Durham Constabulary spokesman said the arrests were a 'significant development' and that the investigation was solely into the alleged theft of material from PONI, adding that 'the theft of these documents potentially puts lives at risk'. Fine Point Films declined to comment until the process is concluded.
Clare Rogan, who lost her husband in the attack, said the victims' families were 'shocked and appalled', describing the arrests as 'the latest attempt to deter the work of families and journalists who seek to shine the light on the dark levels of collusion'. Amnesty International and the National Union of Journalists expressed deep concern, warning of a 'chilling effect' on investigative reporting.
