Northern Ireland

Donaldson: PSNI data breach may impact monitoring of dissident activity

It is believed information on police and staff mistakenly released is now in the hands of republican opposed to the peace process

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson: “I certainly think that confirmation that dissident republicans have this data raises the security threat to an even higher level for serving police officers, their families and civilian staff employed by the PSNI.” Picture: Charles McQuillan

A major PSNI data breach may undermine the ability of the police and security services to keep tabs on dissident republicans, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has said.

He said the fact that the personal information of police officers and civilian staff is in the hands of dissidents raises the threat level faced by the PSNI.

Former Stormont justice minister Naomi Long warned the data leak will have serious consequences for retention and recruitment in ...