Lurgan man jailed 18 months for recording PSNI officer vehicle details

Samuel McCaughey, 35, was sentenced at Belfast Crown Court for recording police vehicle details at Lurgan station in 2020. Two PSNI officers said the recordings caused significant distress.

Lurgan man sentenced for filming police vehicle details at station

A 35-year-old man from Lurgan has been handed an 18-month prison sentence after admitting to recording details of vehicles parked at Lurgan police station on his mobile phone, Google News IE — Crime (en) reports.

Samuel McCaughey, of Kilwilkie Road, Lurgan, pleaded guilty in 2024 to recording information on 27 May 2020 "likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism" — specifically, details of vehicles at Lurgan police station. He was further charged with publishing vehicle details belonging to two members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

At Belfast Crown Court, McCaughey's barrister argued his client "caused no harm" through his actions. Judge Philip Gilpin rejected that characterisation. "I'm not sure that's right," Gilpin told the court. "He caused considerable upset and distress."

The court heard that "real and significant harm was caused" by McCaughey's conduct. One victim said in a personal impact statement that the recordings left them feeling helpless and anxious, with a marked effect on their day-to-day life. A second told the court the recordings caused "distress" and had a "significant impact on their mental health".

McCaughey was described in court as having been "off his face" at the time of the offence, and his barrister said he now recognises it as a "foolish act" he should never have engaged in. McCaughey was "very sorry," the barrister added, and had made "substantial changes" to his life over the six years since the incident.

He was led from the courtroom in handcuffs. Following his 18-month custodial term, he will serve a further year on licence upon release.

Source: Google News IE — Crime (en)