A new development in the PSNI data breach scandal has emerged following the publication of the names of 41 police officers on publicly accessible online court lists. The Department of Justice has since placed the affected website into "essential system maintenance."

The officers involved are claimants in civil actions separate from the larger group litigation involving thousands of other staff members.

Jon Burrows MLA, Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, raised serious concerns regarding the safety of those exposed: "The Chief Constable did not oppose anonymity applications in the data breach proceedings. Many officers perform sensitive, covert, or high risk roles, and the very nature of this case makes their identities particularly vulnerable.

"It is therefore extremely concerning that the names of these claimants were disclosed on the public online court listings. The Justice Minister should immediately provide clarity on whether this was an administrative error by a third party or by the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service, and how long the information remained publicly accessible. "This latest incident only heightens the need for robust safeguards to protect those who serve and their families."

Doug Beattie MC MLA, UUP Justice Spokesperson, further criticised the Department of Justice's handling of the situation, describing it as a failure of oversight: "It's one calamity after another with the Justice Department, and the Minister is never on hand to take responsibility. The Minister's cries of 'that's an operational matter' or 'they are independent' make you wonder why on earth do we have a Justice Minister and Department of Justice.

"The latest data breach by the courts, of serving PSNI officers, puts them at risk. The slippery answer from the department that this was a legal representative mistake hides the fact that they could have stopped such mistakes from happening.

"In simple terms, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the courts ensures that those who may be under threat, if their names are released, are given anonymity. Yet in our justice system, it seems process overruled common sense; independence stifles forward thinking, and operational matters are played like a get out of jail card. If the Department of Justice had a report card for the last 12 months, it would be sitting on a resounding 'F'."