Vincent Kearney
Irish journalist
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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]
1 June 1965
BBC Northern Ireland (2001–2019)
Northern Ireland Editor (2021–present)
Northern Correspondent (2019–2021)
The Sunday Times
Belfast Telegraph
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 Ireland Editor (2021–present) Northern Correspondent (2019–2021) The Sunday Times Belfast Telegraph |
| Spouse | Louise Kearney |
| Children | 4 |
Career
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 9 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
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
MI5 admitted in documents submitted to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal that they had illegally obtained communications data from his phone on two occasions in 2006 and 2009.[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]