McGrath says Executive must outline how they will find the compensation for the police data breach
SDLP Policing Board member Colin McGrath MLA has said significant questions remain about how the Executive will fund compensation for the PSNI data breach.
The Executive has agreed to ring fence £119m from their Budget for 2026/27.
South Down MLA Colin McGrath said: “While on the face of it compensation for PSNI officers and staff impacted by the data breach is to be welcomed, significant questions remain around exactly where this money is coming from.
“We know the Executive is already projected to overspend by around £400m next year and there has been no agreement on a multi-year budget.
“Given the significant pressure facing our public services and competing demands right across Executive departments, I would ask the Justice and Finance Ministers to outline how they will find this compensation.
“This cannot be a false dawn for PSNI officers and staff who had their personal exposed in the worst way and have had expectations raised previously.
“The Finance Minister twice asked the UK Government for this money and was told no. Given the Executive’s amateurish approach to date, those impacted by the data breach would be forgiven for questioning whether this funding will be delivered as promised,” said Colin McGrath.
PSNI Data Breach funding allocation
Justice Minister Naomi Long said: “I welcome The Executive’s decision to commit to providing £119m to the Department to fund the costs of the PSNI data breach.
“This will enable the PSNI to advance negotiations with police officers and police staff in a timely manner, to bring about an early settlement of the ongoing legal proceedings and ensure that significant additional costs to the public purse are not incurred.
“I am also mindful of the distress experienced by those affected and I hope that today’s decision will bring reassurance to staff and their families.”
Beattie Slams Justice Minister Over Mishandling of Police Data Breach Compensation
Ulster Unionist Justice Spokesperson Doug Beattie MC MLA has criticised the Justice Minister for creating “confusion and demoralisation” among police officers and staff over compensation for the recent data breach.
Doug Beattie MC MLA said: “The Justice Minister has created confusion around the monies being made available to the Chief Constable to negotiate settlements with Police Officers and Staff regarding data breach compensation.
“This confusion has left many police officers demoralised, the police federation angry, and the Chief Constable having to manage a situation that was not of his making.
“This confusion was all created by a Justice Minister who ran ahead of herself by stating something that was not accurate; a mistake that can happen to anyone, a mistake that has real life consequences for police officers, staff, and their families.
“However, it must be said that the Justice Minister knew within hours of her mistake.
“Yet, instead of releasing a statement immediately outlining how she had got it wrong, she held back, attempted to control the media narrative, and gave a pre-recorded interview on the same day outlining the facts that was not to go on air until the next morning.
“No thought was given to the Police Federation, no thought to the Police Officers and their families, no thought to the police staff, and no thought to a Chief Constable who was desperately trying to maintain police morale.
“Not only was this a poor response from the Minister, but when she did come forward to outline the mistake, she did so with a chuckle, minimising the issue.
“Mistakes happen, and all it takes is for those mistakes to be put right and an apology offered for making a mistake.
“That was not what I heard from the Justice Minister. Others can make their minds up, but this felt like a cynical attempt to hide at best, a mistake, and at worst, incompetence.”
