
ALT Text: 6.13 However, several DSA and covert human intelligence source (CHIS) authorisations were identified by the Review and subject to criticism. The Review’s findings on these authorisations are set out in some detail in its report. PSNI provided us with the CLOSED Annex to the Review to assist Inspectors in identifying the relevant cases. 6.14 None of these authorisations had previously been brought to our attention by PSNI, despite requests to do so during each inspection. We were notified of two such cases outside the relevant inspection year, largely because of public scrutiny of the relevant cases: these were the DSA in the McCaffrey & Birney case, and a DSA in respect of the journalist Donal MacIntyre which is discussed in some detail in the McCullough Review report. Chief Constable Boutcher also wrote to the IPC on 12 September 2025, following a meeting to discuss the Review’s findings, and notified us of several further cases which PSNI had identified as potentially falling..
















