In 2023 – under a Freedom of Information request – PSNI released the names of more than 10,000 staff and officers by mistake
A man on trial for terrorist offences linked to a PSNI data breach has denied any involvement in “illegal, malicious or nefarious” activity.
The data breach occurred on August 8, 2023, when – under a Freedom of Information request – the PSNI released the names of more than 10,000 staff and officers by mistake.
Ten days later Christopher Paul O’Kane, who described himself as the former national secretary of Saoradh, was arrested. The 52-year old, from Iniscarn Road in Derry, denies four terrorist offences dating back to August 2023.
He is currently on trial at Belfast Crown Court and after being called to the witness box today, O’Kane was asked a series of questions by his barrister Kieran Mallon KC.
O’Kane confirmed he was arrested on August 18, 2023 and taken to Musgrave PSNI station where he was interviewed over a two-day period. He also confirmed that he provided to police a prepared statement which contained denials regarding the charges and didn’t answer any further questions.
When asked why he didn’t answer police questions, O’Kane said he was “quite shocked to be in custody for this data leak” but that he provided his statement via his solicitor.
Mr Mallon asked O’Kane about his role in Saoradh and O’Kane said that in August 2023 he was national secretary but he now holds an advisory role for the national executive. He also confirmed he created and developed Saoradh’s website.
Describing Saoradh as a “lawful, legitimate political party”, O’Kane said its objectives included affecting peaceful constitutional change on the island of Ireland with aspirations of establishing a united 32-county socialist republic free from British rule.
When asked if he supported these objectives, O’Kane said: “yes, 100%. I am a Republican, I have been for many, many years and I’m still a Republican.
“However, my Republicanism and my activism it’s purely political that I have been carrying out since the formation of Saoradh in 2016. It is purely community-based political activity I’m engaged in.”
Mr Mallon then asked his client about his role in Saoradh and O’Kane said that until his arrest, he was the group’s website administrator.
After Mr Mallon asked O’Kane “what is your attitude towards the PSNI?”, he said that whilst he understood and respected the need for a rule of law in every country, he added that since his involvement with Saoradh he had “no confidence” and “no love” for the PSNI.
This, he said, was due to being stopped “hundreds of times” by police.
Mr Mallon then asked O’Kane about the data breach on August 8 and he confirmed he received the spreadsheet, was not sure of the exact date this happened and that it had been highlighted when he received it.
When asked if he had an interest in it, O’Kane said it was “global news” and that after watching the news, it was “public interest and being talked about everywhere I went.”
Asked what he did when he received it, O’Kane said he received it via WhatsApp on his phone, that it was a large document and as “curiosity was getting the better of me”, he said he saved it to an email account “with a view, at a later date, to have a look at it and I wanted to view it on a larger screen other than on my phone.”
Mr Mallon then asked his client if he took any steps, after receiving it, in seeking to identify any police officers on the document and O’Kane relied “absolutely not.”
Citing what happened as a “blunder” on the part of the PSNI, O’Kane said he felt at that time that the breach could be used politically to embarrass the police.
He added that he didn’t manipulate the spreadsheet, he didn’t forward it and he didn’t print it out. O’Kane also denied having any intention of possessing the spreadsheet for a act of terrorism
When O’Kane’s previous convictions were raised, he admitted being involved in “militant republican violence” in the 90s and subsequently received jail time but said his “sole role” within the Republicanism now is “community-based and purely political.”
And when asked by his barrister if he was a member of the New IRA, O’Kane said “absolutely not, never have been and never will be.”
O’Kane also denied researching private network services for terrorist purposes and using VPNs for an unlawful purpose.
The defendant was then cross-examined by a Crown prosecutor who questioned him about a highlighted section of the spreadsheet regarding the names of two officers the barrister said O’Kane had “personal dealings with.”
O’Kane said he had dealings with and knew “dozens of police officers”. The Crown barrister then questioned O’Kane about his criminal record which, he suggested, indicated O’Kane’s hostility towards police.
Repeating there was “no love lost” and that his criminal record dated back over three decades, O’Kane said he “left that past behind” and that he did not target or intend targeting any police whose names appeared on the spreadsheet.
It was also suggested by the Crown barrister that O’Kane “didn’t have time to take the next step in preparing acts of terrorism” due to his arrest.
From the witness box, O’Kane said he was “not involved in an illegal, malicious or nefarious” activity and that he was “not for using that document” to target “anyone on it.”
A former IT manager in the health service, O’Kane has pleaded not guilty to preparation of terrorist acts and possessing articles in the use of terrorism, namely two Samsung mobile phones, an encrypted USB and an ASUS laptop.
He further denies possessing documents or records for use in terrorism, namely spreadsheets containing details on serving PSNI officers and police staff officers.
The offences are alleged to have been committed on dates between August 7, 2023 and August 19, 2023.
O’Kane also pleaded not guilty to viewing YouTube videos relating to improvised explosive devices and their detonation between August 1 and 19 2023.
At hearing.
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter
#Man #denies #terrorist #offences #linked #huge #PSNI #data #breach
