17 December 2025
SDLP Policing Board member Colin McGrath MLA has said significant questions remain about how the Executive will fund compensation for the PSNI data breach.
The Executive agreed to ring fence £119m from their Budget for 2026/27.
South Down MLA Colin McGrath said:
“While on the face of it compensation for PSNI officers and staff impacted by the data breach is to be welcomed, significant questions remain around exactly where this money is coming from.
“We know the Executive is already projected to overspend by around £400m next year and there has been no agreement on a multi-year budget. Given the significant pressure facing our public services and competing demands right across Executive departments I would ask the Justice and Finance Ministers to outline how they will find this compensation.
“This cannot be a false dawn for PSNI officers and staff who had their personal exposed in the worst way and have had expectations raised previously. The Finance Minister twice asked the UK Government for this money and was told no. Given the Executive’s amateurish approach to date those impacted by the data breach would be forgiven for questioning whether this funding will be delivered as promised.”