Tribunal Hears Claims of Catholic Bias in Northern Ireland Judiciary

Detective testifies about senior officer's concerns over judicial decisions influenced by a Catholic majority in the legal system.

Former Durham detective Darren Ellis testified at the Investigatory Powers Tribunal in London regarding alleged unlawful surveillance of journalists in Northern Ireland.
A senior police officer in Northern Ireland expressed concerns that the prevalence of Catholic judges led to 'perverse decisions,' according to Ellis's testimony.
Journalists Barry McCaffrey and Trevor Birney, who were arrested in 2018 over a documentary leak, were awarded £875,000 in damages after a court ruled police warrants were wrongly obtained.
Ellis stated he did not share the views on religious bias in the judiciary and admitted he did not fully understand the Northern Ireland community.
The tribunal is investigating claims of unlawful covert intelligence operations by the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Durham Constabulary, and the Metropolitan Police.