United Nations intervene in case of Unlawful Surveillance against Belfast Solicitors

On 31 March 2026, the United Nations took the extraordinary step of directly intervening in a case involving alleged unlawful surveillance of solicitors in Northern Ireland. The intervention represents a significant escalation of international scrutiny on the conduct of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and raises profound concerns about the protection of legal privilege and the independence of the legal profession.

UN Special Rapporteurs Intervene

Two senior UN mandate holders – Margaret Satterthwaite and Ana Brian Nougrères – have issued a formal communication to the UK Government following the publication of the McCullough Review.

The communication relates to the surveillance of Phoenix Law solicitors Peter Corrigan and Darragh Mackin, both of whom have acted in cases involving allegations against the PSNI.

The United Nations has now made that communication public.

Core Findings: Potential Reprisal Against Lawyers

The UN expressed serious concern about what appears to be a pattern of surveillance linked to the solicitors’ professional work:

“We would like to express our concern regarding indications of a pattern of communications data authorizations that seem to coincide with Mr. Mackin and Mr. Corrigan’s representation of clients bringing allegations against the PSNI.”

Critically, the UN warned that if surveillance was carried out as a result of their legal work, it may amount to a breach of international law protecting lawyers:

“…such actions may amount to a violation of international standards protecting the right of lawyers to perform all of their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference.”

Legal Privilege and Fair Trial Rights at Risk

The communication highlights serious concerns about the infringement of lawyer-client confidentiality – a cornerstone of the justice system:

• Alleged access to communications data risks undermining legal professional privilege
• Confidential lawyer-client communications are essential to the right to a fair trial
• Any interference threatens the integrity of the justice system as a whole

The UN reaffirmed that these protections are enshrined in international standards, including the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, which require governments to ensure lawyers can operate free from interference.

Urgent Questions Put to the UK Government

The United Nations has demanded urgent clarification and action from the UK Government, including:

• Disclosure of the legal and factual basis for any surveillance of the solicitors
• Confirmation of what data was obtained, how it was used, and whether surveillance is ongoing
• Steps taken to implement recommendations from the McCullough Review
• Measures to prevent unlawful surveillance of lawyers in future
• Safeguards to ensure lawyers are free from harassment and interference

Response from Phoenix Law

Peter Corrigan

Peter Corrigan welcomed the intervention:

“Today’s news that the UN Special Rapporteurs have issued a communication is a welcome step in supporting us as lawyers following the unlawful spying by the PSNI.

The police are entrusted to uphold the law, but instead they have broken the law. Our families and our rights were expendable…

Today marks another step in the fight back against abuse of power and misuse of surveillance.”

Darragh Mackin

Darragh Mackin reflected on the wider significance, invoking the legacy of Rosemary Nelson:

“On 29^th September 1998, the human rights lawyer Rosemary Nelson gave evidence before the US Congress.  Rosemary concluded with the words:

“I believe that my role as a lawyer in defending the rights of my clients is vital. The test of a new society in Northern Ireland will be to the extent to which it can recognise and respect that role, and enable me to discharge it with without improper interference. I look forward to that day.”  

The United Nations intervention today is not only an important step for us, but an important step towards that place that Rosemary Nelson aspired.  Rosemary’s words should not be in vein.   

Today’s communication is a landmark indication that the International Human Rights Community will no longer sit back and tolerate misuse of state powers deployed in a ‘reprisal’ against lawyers simly by virtue of the cases they bring.  Today marks an end to the culture of tolerating the intolerable abusive actions of those who are meant to guard the rule of law, abuse the rule of law.”