´óÏó´«Ã½ to hand over material from series on the Troubles
- Published
The order was made at Belfast Crown Court on Thursday
The ´óÏó´«Ã½ is to hand over broadcast material and material not broadcast from a documentary series about the Troubles to police, a judge has said.
The order was made at Belfast Crown Court on Thursday.
It follows agreement between the PSNI and the ´óÏó´«Ã½ on Spotlight On The Troubles: A Secret History material.
A PSNI lawyer told the court there are "reasonable grounds" to believe the material is likely to be of use to terrorist investigations.
The material includes interviews with Patrick Ryan, a former priest from County Tipperary, who told the programme, first broadcast in 2019, he had maintained a network of Europe-wide contacts used to generate arms and money for the IRA.
It also features interviews with convicted killer Laurence Maguire about his involvement with the Mid Ulster UVF.
A judge praised counsel for both the ´óÏó´«Ã½ and the PSNI for reaching accommodation on what material should be handed over in what he said has been a long-running case.
He said: "I remind myself of my obligations under the Terrorism Act.
"The following conditions must be satisfied; that the order is sought for the purposes of a terrorist investigation.
"Having read and considered the papers and evidence, I am satisfied that it is for the purpose of a terrorist investigation."
The material includes interviews with Patrick Ryan, a former priest from County Tipperary
He said there was a need to protect the public from terrorist activity and he said he was satisfied the public interest was in favour of granting an order.
"Within 21 days, the ´óÏó´«Ã½ shall produce the following material to the PSNI, insofar as they are held by the ´óÏó´«Ã½ arising out of episodes three, six and eight of the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s Spotlight On The Troubles: A Secret History," he said.
"These materials are only to be used for the purposes of a terrorist investigation and any subsequent prosecution and are to be retained by the PSNI."
In a statement, a ´óÏó´«Ã½ spokesperson said: "The ´óÏó´«Ã½'s policy is that we do not supply un-transmitted material without a court order and where a judge is satisfied the relevant high threshold tests for the disclosure of journalistic material are met."