Vincent Kearney (original) (raw)

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Irish journalist

Vincent Kearney is an Irish journalist. He is the current Northern Ireland Editor for RTÉ News since 2021.[1][2][3][4][5] He previously was Northern Correspondent for RTÉ News from 2019 to 2021, and worked for BBC Northern Ireland, The Sunday Times and the Belfast Telegraph for 32 years.[6]

Prior to joining RTÉ, Kearney worked as a reporter and producer for daily news and documentaries for the BBC, including four years with BBC Northern Ireland's Spotlight programme.[7][8] During his 32 years of experience, Kearney was Home Affairs Correspondent for BBC Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Correspondent with The Sunday Times and also a journalist for the Belfast Telegraph for 9 years.[9][10][11] Kearney joined RTÉ in January 2019 as Northern Ireland Correspondent, where he reported across all of RTÉ's flagship news programmes, providing television, radio and online coverage.[12][13]

Kearney succeeded Tommie Gorman as Northern Ireland Editor for RTÉ News in April 2021.[14][15][16]

Kearney was born in West Belfast, Northern Ireland. He is married to Louise Kearney for 30 years and have four children. They currently reside in Lurgan, County Armagh.[17]

MI5 admitted in documents submitted to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal that they had it had illegally obtained communications data from his phone on two occasions in 2006 and 2009.[18] Kearney described it as "unprecedented" and that he was "deeply concerning" for himself and other journalists.[18]

Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty Internationals' Northern Ireland director said "The right of a journalist to protect their confidential sources is the bedrock in which the free press is built, so this is particularly alarming."[18]

Gerry Kelly of Sinn Féin said MI5 needed to be accountable, adding: "The government have to bring in an accountability mechanism which works".[18]

Claire Hanna, leader of the SDLP, said "The Policing Board must exercise its powers to conduct a forensic review of surveillance practices targeting local journalism and to examine any political interference by security actors, a clear abuse of power that cannot be justified."[18]

1. ^ "Vincent Kearney". RTÉ News. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
2. ^ "Vincent Kearney - RTÉ Journalist - Muck Rack". muckrack.com. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
3. ^ "Vincent Kearney appointed RTÉ's Northern Editor". RTÉ News. 29 January 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
4. ^ Young, Connla (29 January 2021). "Vincent Kearney to replace Tommie Gorman as Northern Editor of RTÉ News". The Irish News. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
5. ^ O'Shea, Cormac (29 January 2021). "RTE News unveil new Northern Editor as stalwart Tommie Gorman set to retire". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
6. ^ Ní Aodha, Gráinne; Murray, Sean (29 January 2021). "'Jesus, I've lived the dream, it has been great': Veteran RTÉ journalist Tommie Gorman is retiring". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
7. ^ Hyland, Claire (29 January 2021). "'Beating heart' of RTÉ, Northern Editor Tommie Gorman hanging up his mic". Evoke.ie. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
8. ^ "Former Tele journalist Vincent Kearney to lead RTE's Northern Ireland news coverage". Belfast Telegraph. 29 January 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
9. ^ Bell, Jonathan (29 January 2021). "Ex-tele man Kearney is new northern editor at RTÉ". PressReader. Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
10. ^ "Former BBC NI journalist Vincent Kearney named RTE's new northern editor". Newsletter.co.uk. 29 January 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
11. ^ "BBC News NI's Vincent Kearney to move to RTÉ". BBC News. 23 December 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
12. ^ "RTÉ News announces Vincent Kearney as new Northern Ireland Editor". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. 29 January 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
13. ^ Bryant, Aoibhinn (29 January 2021). "'Beating heart of RTE News' Tommie Gorman to retire after 40 years as Vincent Kearney confirmed as replacement". Extra.ie. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
14. ^ Moloney, Eoghan (29 January 2021). "'The beating heart of RTÉ News' – Tommie Gorman to call time on 41-year broadcasting career". Irish Independent. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
15. ^ Moriarty, Gerry (29 January 2021). "Northern editor Tommie Gorman to retire from RTÉ in April". The Irish Times. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
16. ^ Henehan, Conor (29 January 2021). "Tommie Gorman, the "beating heart" of RTÉ News, to retire after 41 years". JOE.ie. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
17. ^ "At home with... RTÉ's Vincent Kearney". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. 29 July 2020. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
18. ^ a b c d e Simpson, Mark (15 September 2025). "MI5 'illegally obtained data' from ex-BBC journalist's phone". BBC News. Retrieved 20 September 2025.