Detective testifies to his extreme paranoia following PSNI data breach
03/12/2025 | BBC News
The High Court in Belfast has heard the powerful testimony of a detective, referred to as MTB13, who described the severe mental distress he experienced following the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) personal data breach in 2023. The officer, who had investigated paramilitary crime for nearly 30 years, is one of six people claiming damages over the incident in which the PSNI accidentally released the personal details of its entire 9,400-strong workforce in response to a Freedom of Information request.
MTB13 testified that the breach led to a period of extreme paranoia. Having previously witnessed the aftermath of the attempted murder of a colleague, MTB13 said his young son later asked if he "was going to be next." The detective described being "gutted" when his son subsequently disclosed he wanted a pen knife for protection.
The court heard that the breach shattered the detective’s trust in his employer. MTB13 stated that while he had always viewed his job as "me and my employers against the bad guys," the data breach made his employer feel like the "bad guy, almost bringing it to my door." He described being "imploding and in freefall" as his mind and body began shutting down.
His paranoia was evident during a subsequent family holiday in Portugal, where he was convinced that a solicitor he recognised at the airport was alerting "a dissident community on the Algarve" who were "coming to get me." He took identifying labels off his luggage and carefully tracked his movements.
MTB13, who was later diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder, stated he developed profound anger towards the PSNI and now lives with continuous paranoia and anxiety due to the breach.
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