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Detective Feared Targeted After PSNI Data Breach
4 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Officer feared he was a target after PSNI data breach.
- A child feared his father was next after a shooting incident.
- PSNI accepted liability for the data breach but can't fund compensation.
A detective, known as MTB13, experienced severe psychological distress following a significant data breach within the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) in 2023. The breach exposed the details of 9,400 officers and staff, leading MTB13 to fear he was also a target, especially after witnessing the aftermath of an assassination attempt on a colleague, Det Ch Insp John Caldwell.
The detective’s anxieties escalated after the attempted murder, with his young son asking if he would be "next." The subsequent data breach compounded his trauma, making him feel his employer was responsible for bringing danger to his door. He developed complex post-traumatic stress disorder and experienced paranoia, even during a family holiday.
The PSNI has accepted liability for the breach, which involved details being published online and obtained by dissident republicans. However, the service is currently unable to fund the compensation claims, and a government request for £119 million has been denied, leaving victims without immediate financial recourse.
