Lurgan man who recorded PSNI officers’ cars at police station is jailed
A Co Armagh man who recorded details of the vehicles of PSNI officers inside a police station has been jailed for terrorism-related offences
Police have said the actions of the 35-year-old defendant had caused “significant concern and worry among officers”.
Samuel McCaughey, of Kilwilke Road in Lurgan, appeared before Belfast Crown Court for sentencing.
He had been charged with collecting or making a record of information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, and publishing or communicating information about members of armed forces, likely to be useful to terrorists. Both offences are under section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
McCaughey was handed an 18-month custodial sentence and will have to spend 12 months on licence following his release from prison for both offences.
He will also be subject to the Counter-Terrorism Registration for a period of 10 years.
Speaking after the defendant was sentenced, Detective Inspector McCamley, from the PSNI’s Organised Crime Branch, said the Lurgan man's actions had “contributed to a heightened sense of vulnerability” among PSNI officers.
"On Wednesday, May 27, 2020 McCaughey entered Lurgan police station in relation to the production of driving documents,” he said.
"While he was walking down the yard and towards the enquiry office, he was observed recording vehicles within the yard on his phone. When challenged by station security he put his phone away.
"Officers conducted a subsequent search and the phone was seized after McCaughey threw it from his pocket and onto the ground.
"Forensic evidence revealed that a video of a number of police vehicles within the station had been placed on his own social media and distributed to hundreds of his personal contacts."
Det Insp McCamley described the enquiry as a “lengthy investigation” that presented as a potential security risk to police officers,
He said it “ultimately could have disclosed the location and operational presence of police resources”.
He added: "McCaughey’s actions caused significant concern and worry among officers and contributed to a heightened sense of vulnerability, particularly given the potential for such sensitive information to be misused and cause harm.”