Vincent Kearney
Vincent Kearney | |
|---|---|
| Born | Vincent Kearney 1 June 1965 |
| Occupation | Journalist |
| Years active | 2001–present |
| Notable credit(s) | RTÉ News (2019–present) BBC Northern Ireland (2001–2019) Northern Editor (2021–present) Northern Correspondent (2019–2021) The Sunday Times Belfast Telegraph |
| Spouse | Louise Kearney |
| Children | 4 |
Vincent Kearney is an Irish journalist. He is the current Northern Ireland editor for RTÉ News since 2021.[1][2][3][4][5] He previously was northern correspondent for RTÉ News from 2019 to 2021, and worked for BBC Northern Ireland, The Sunday Times and the Belfast Telegraph for 32 years.[6]
Career
[edit]Prior to joining RTÉ, Kearney worked as a reporter and producer for daily news and documentaries for the BBC, including four years with BBC Northern Ireland's Spotlight programme.[7][8] During his 32 years of experience, Kearney was Home Affairs correspondent for BBC Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland correspondent with The Sunday Times and also a journalist for the Belfast Telegraph for nine years.[9][10][11] Kearney joined RTÉ in January 2019 as Northern Ireland correspondent, where he reported across all of RTÉ's flagship news programmes, providing television, radio and online coverage.[12][13]
Kearney succeeded Tommie Gorman as Northern Ireland editor for RTÉ News in April 2021.[14][15][16]
Personal life
[edit]Kearney was born in West Belfast, Northern Ireland. He is married to Louise Kearney for 30 years and have four children. They currently reside in Lurgan, County Armagh.[17]
MI5 phone tapping
[edit]MI5 admitted in documents submitted to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal in 2025 that they had illegally obtained communications data from Kearney's phone on two occasions in 2006 and 2009, when he was the Home Affairs correspondent for BBC Northern Ireland.[18] Kearney described it as "unprecedented" and that he was "deeply concerning" for himself and other journalists.[18]
Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty Internationals' Northern Ireland director said "The right of a journalist to protect their confidential sources is the bedrock in which the free press is built, so this is particularly alarming."[18]
Gerry Kelly of Sinn Féin said MI5 needed to be accountable, adding: "The government have to bring in an accountability mechanism which works".[18]
Claire Hanna, leader of the SDLP, said "The Policing Board must exercise its powers to conduct a forensic review of surveillance practices targeting local journalism and to examine any political interference by security actors, a clear abuse of power that cannot be justified."[18]
On 23 July 2026, MI5 and the PSNI were ordered to pay £10,000 each in damages to Kearney for illegally accessing his phone data. Kearney welcomed the judgment as "a tremendous victory for journalism and an affirmation of the duty and legal rights of journalists to protect sources".[19][20]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Vincent Kearney". RTÉ News. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- ↑ "Vincent Kearney - RTÉ Journalist - Muck Rack". muckrack.com. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- ↑ "Vincent Kearney appointed RTÉ's Northern Editor". RTÉ News. 29 January 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- ↑ Young, Connla (29 January 2021). "Vincent Kearney to replace Tommie Gorman as Northern Editor of RTÉ News". The Irish News. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- ↑ O'Shea, Cormac (29 January 2021). "RTE News unveil new Northern Editor as stalwart Tommie Gorman set to retire". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- ↑ Ní Aodha, Gráinne; Murray, Sean (29 January 2021). "'Jesus, I've lived the dream, it has been great': Veteran RTÉ journalist Tommie Gorman is retiring". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- ↑ Hyland, Claire (29 January 2021). "'Beating heart' of RTÉ, Northern Editor Tommie Gorman hanging up his mic". Evoke.ie. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- ↑ "Former Tele journalist Vincent Kearney to lead RTE's Northern Ireland news coverage". Belfast Telegraph. 29 January 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- ↑ Bell, Jonathan (29 January 2021). "Ex-tele man Kearney is new northern editor at RTÉ". PressReader. Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- ↑ "Former BBC NI journalist Vincent Kearney named RTE's new northern editor". Newsletter.co.uk. 29 January 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- ↑ "BBC News NI's Vincent Kearney to move to RTÉ". BBC News. 23 December 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- ↑ "RTÉ News announces Vincent Kearney as new Northern Ireland Editor". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. 29 January 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- ↑ Bryant, Aoibhinn (29 January 2021). "'Beating heart of RTE News' Tommie Gorman to retire after 40 years as Vincent Kearney confirmed as replacement". Extra.ie. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- ↑ Moloney, Eoghan (29 January 2021). "'The beating heart of RTÉ News' – Tommie Gorman to call time on 41-year broadcasting career". Irish Independent. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- ↑ Moriarty, Gerry (29 January 2021). "Northern editor Tommie Gorman to retire from RTÉ in April". The Irish Times. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- ↑ Henehan, Conor (29 January 2021). "Tommie Gorman, the "beating heart" of RTÉ News, to retire after 41 years". JOE.ie. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- ↑ "At home with... RTÉ's Vincent Kearney". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. 29 July 2020. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Simpson, Mark (15 September 2025). "MI5 'illegally obtained data' from ex-BBC journalist's phone". BBC News. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
- ↑ Hogan, Laura (23 July 2026). "MI5, PSNI ordered to pay damages to journalist over illegal phone data access". RTÉ News. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
- ↑ Glass, Jess (23 July 2026). "'A tremendous victory for journalism' – RTÉ's Vincent Kearney awarded £20,000 after data breach by MI5 and PSNI". Irish Independent. Retrieved 24 July 2026.