News International-Northern Ireland timeline
Contents
2000
November
- Philip Campbell Smith is arrested by the Stevens Inquiry accused of intimidating Martin Ingram (Ian Hurst) over his co-operation with the Inquiry.[1]
2006
June
- 18 - A News of the World article by Martin Breen reveals that Ken Barrett is living in Bexhill-on-Sea under police protection following his release from prison for the murder of Pat Finucane (a conviction resulting from the Stevens Inquiry). Former RUC detective Johnston Brown suggests Barrett is responsible for up to ten murders.[2] Former special forces soldier Steve Ibinson is involved in tracking Barrett down.[3]
July
- 5 - According to Hurst/Ingram, an email hacked from his computer is sent to the Dublin office of the News of the World on this date. The hacker was a former FRU colleague of Ingram who had had met two News of the World journalists in Leeds in mid-2006, who had engaged him to "obtain information and documents about activities connected to my ongoing investigations relating to matters in Northern Ireland".[4]
2007
February
- 11 - A News of the World article by Martin Breen reveals that PSNI Chief Constable Hugh Orde has been having an affair with a Metropolitan Police officer who he met when she joined the Stevens Inquiry.[5]
March
- 4 - A News of the World article by Martin Breen reveals the result of a freedom of information request to the Stevens Inquiry showing that Freddie Scappaticci, believed to be the IRA informer codenamed Stakeknife could face up to 16 murder charges. An un-named former soldier of the Force Research Unit is quoted suggesting Scappaticci may have received up to £2 million as a payoff. The paper also states Scappaticci is not in Italy or Tenerife as suggested elsewhere.[6]
April
- 22 A Martin Breen article in the News of the World gives details of an afffidavit sworn by Metropolitan Police Detective Chief Inspector Graham Taylor of the Stevens Inquiry, naming the UDA's William 'Mo' Courtney as one of the killers of Pat Finucane on the basis of evidence from a UDA mole. The article stated: "The affidavit from DCI Taylor has never been read out in court and was part of other proceedings brought by the Stevens Inquiry to obtain documents for its investigation. We have obtained the document from a source not involved in the Stevens Inquiry or Crown Prosecution Service."[7]
2009
May
- 21 - Alex Marunchak reports in the Press Gazette that the News of the World's Belfast Editor, Martin Breen has been appointed editor of the Sunday Life. News of the World colleague David O'Dornan joins him as associate editor.[8]
2011
February
- Philip Campbell Smith named as the man accused of hacking Ian Hurst, after he is convicted of onspiring to illegally access private information for profit in a separate case.[9]
Notes
- ↑ Neil Mackay, The Scot behind Ulster's dirty war; Elite unit passed intelligence to UDA death squads, The Sunday Herald, 19 November 2000.
- ↑ Martin Breen, Secret life of mobster who killed Kielty dad, News of the World, 18 June 2006.
- ↑ Martin Breen, Brave ibbo truly was one of a kind, Sunday Life, 19 April 2009.
- ↑ Ian Hurst's witness statement to the Leveson inquiry - full text, guardian.co.uk, 28 November 2011.
- ↑ Martin Breen, Order's secret love child, News of the World, 11 February 2007, archived at nuzhound.com.
- ↑ Martin Breen, Stakeknife quizzed on shootings, News of the World, 4 March 2007, archived at nuzhound.com.
- ↑ Martin Breen, UDA mole nailed Mo, News of the World, 22 April 2007.
- ↑ Alex Marunchak, Martin Breen becomes Sunday Life's youngest editor, Press Gazette, 21 May 2009.
- ↑ Vikram Dodd and Nick Davies, News of the World hacking suspect pleads guilty to conspiracy, guardian.co.uk, 20 February 2012.
