MLA blasts PSNI over £50k spend withholding gold mine files

TL;DR

An unnamed MLA criticises the PSNI for spending at least £50,000 in legal fees to block release of gold mining documents while claiming budget shortages.
The costs cover PSNI's failed appeals up to the Court of Appeal against the Information Commissioner's order to disclose dealings with gold mining firms.
This highlights tensions over PSNI transparency and public spending amid financial pressures and ongoing local opposition to gold mining in Tyrone.

The story at a glance

An MLA has hit out at the PSNI for its "outrageous" use of public money to withhold documents on police dealings with gold mining companies, even as the force pleads poverty.[[1]](https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/mla-blasts-psnis-outrageous-use-of-public-money-on-withholding-gold-mining-documents-as-it-pleads-poverty/a/145614450.html) The criticism follows reports that PSNI spent at least £50,000 on legal fees fighting a Freedom of Information request from campaigner Ciaran McClean, losing cases up to Northern Ireland's Court of Appeal.[[1]](https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/mla-blasts-psnis-outrageous-use-of-public-money-on-withholding-gold-mining-documents-as-it-pleads-poverty/a/145614450.html)[[2]](https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/cash-strapped-psni-spent-%C2%A350k-on-legal-fees-to-withhold-gold-mining-documents-from-information-watchdog/a/145132206.html) The story is reported now after a second confirmation of the costs, building on March court rulings forcing disclosure.[[3]](https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/court-orders-chief-constable-to-disclose-info-about-gold-mining-security-that-was-withheld-for-six-years/a/142799968.html)

Key points

PSNI refused to release records of talks with gold mining companies, stemming from a May 2020 FoI request by local campaigner Ciaran McClean about security arrangements.[[2]](https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/cash-strapped-psni-spent-%C2%A350k-on-legal-fees-to-withhold-gold-mining-documents-from-information-watchdog/a/145132206.html)[[3]](https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/court-orders-chief-constable-to-disclose-info-about-gold-mining-security-that-was-withheld-for-six-years/a/142799968.html)
Information Commissioner ordered disclosure; PSNI fought back through tribunals and lost at the Court of Appeal in March 2026, which rejected claims of legal privilege.[[4]](https://www.casemine.com/commentary/uk/foia-s.51-information-notices:-s.51(1)(a)-is-disjunctive-from-s.51(1)(b)-and-the-commissioner-may-require-sight-of-legally-privileged-material-to-decide-a-s.50-complaint/view)[[3]](https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/court-orders-chief-constable-to-disclose-info-about-gold-mining-security-that-was-withheld-for-six-years/a/142799968.html)
Legal fees total at least £50,000, confirmed in a second report, covering six years of resistance despite PSNI's cash-strapped status under Chief Constable Jon Boutcher.[[2]](https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/cash-strapped-psni-spent-%C2%A350k-on-legal-fees-to-withhold-gold-mining-documents-from-information-watchdog/a/145132206.html)[[1]](https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/mla-blasts-psnis-outrageous-use-of-public-money-on-withholding-gold-mining-documents-as-it-pleads-poverty/a/145614450.html)
Documents relate to past disputes with firms like Dalradian Gold, including a £500,000 policing bill for explosives escorts that PSNI later wrote off.[[5]](https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/cash-strapped-psni-cites-national-security-as-reason-for-withholding-review-which-led-to-500k-services-bill-being-written-off-to-gold-mine-company-Z27S3UORRZH4FBZX2DLI7LTIBQ)
Policing Board warned the controversy could harm public trust in PSNI.[[6]](https://www.msn.com/en-ie/news/uknews/psni-goldmine-info-controversy-could-damage-public-trust-policing-board-warned/ar-AA1ZQ1du?apiversion=v2&batchservertelemetry=1&domshim=1&noservercache=1&noservertelemetry=1&renderwebcomponents=1&wcseo=1)

Details and context

The case traces back to opposition against gold mining in the Sperrins area of Co Tyrone, where Canadian firm Dalradian planned operations but faced protests over environmental risks; over 50,000 objections were lodged against related plans.[[7]](https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/complaint-alleging-dup-mla-inappropriately-lobbied-on-behalf-of-gold-mining-company-rejected/a/113067092.html) PSNI provided security for explosives transport—a legal requirement to prevent misuse—but billed the company nearly £400,000 initially, leading to disputes and the eventual write-off after an internal review (details withheld citing national security).[[8]](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-37824240)[[5]](https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/cash-strapped-psni-cites-national-security-as-reason-for-withholding-review-which-led-to-500k-services-bill-being-written-off-to-gold-mine-company-Z27S3UORRZH4FBZX2DLI7LTIBQ)

McClean's FoI sought "any record of talks between goldmine companies discussing security," held back for six years across multiple appeals.[[3]](https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/court-orders-chief-constable-to-disclose-info-about-gold-mining-security-that-was-withheld-for-six-years/a/142799968.html) PSNI argued privilege, but the Court of Appeal ruled the Information Commissioner could review the material to decide on public release.[[9]](https://www.nidigest.com/en/2026-03-18/3017/court-of-appeal-refuses-psni-bid-to-withhold-legally-privileged-material-from-information-commission)

PSNI faces budget strains, often citing poverty for service cuts, making the legal spend contentious; no PSNI response to the MLA's criticism is reported yet.

Key quotes

MLA: "outrageous use of public money on withholding gold mining documents as it pleads poverty."[[1]](https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/mla-blasts-psnis-outrageous-use-of-public-money-on-withholding-gold-mining-documents-as-it-pleads-poverty/a/145614450.html)

Why it matters

Public trust in police handling of transparency requests and spending is at stake, especially amid ongoing debates over mining in protected areas like the Sperrins.

Taxpayers footed at least £50,000 for lost legal battles while PSNI claims shortages affect frontline services.

Watch whether the Information Commissioner releases redacted documents or if PSNI appeals further—though recent losses suggest disclosure is likely.