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Sean Woodward says lives may have been compromised if NIO computers were hacked Shaun Woodward says lives may have been compromised if NIO computers were hacked
(about 1 hour later)
The former secretary of state for Northern Ireland Sean Woodward has said the lives of the public may have been put at risk if computers of Northern Ireland Office ministers were hacked. Former secretary of state for Northern Ireland Shaun Woodward has said the lives of the public may have been put at risk if computers of Northern Ireland Office ministers were hacked.
He was responding to reports that the computer of his predecessor Peter Hain may have been hacked by private detectives from News International.He was responding to reports that the computer of his predecessor Peter Hain may have been hacked by private detectives from News International.
The Guardian newspaper said it was related to his role in NI.The Guardian newspaper said it was related to his role in NI.
Mr Woodward said it was likely that his computer had also been tampered with.Mr Woodward said it was likely that his computer had also been tampered with.
He said there were two types of computer accounts that could have been affected.He said there were two types of computer accounts that could have been affected.
"We could be talking about the one effectively set up by the government to handle top secret information and the NIO have said that that could not have possibly have been tampered with," he said."We could be talking about the one effectively set up by the government to handle top secret information and the NIO have said that that could not have possibly have been tampered with," he said.
"I would simply say we seem to know from recent evidence that people have been able to break into the Pentagon so again, a bit of caution before the government just says it's impossible."I would simply say we seem to know from recent evidence that people have been able to break into the Pentagon so again, a bit of caution before the government just says it's impossible.
"More importantly and more likely though is the access into his personal email accounts and whilst Peter, I'm certain would never have put anything sensitive or classified into those accounts, when you're travelling every day between London and Belfast the office have to be able to communicate with you and send you emails."More importantly and more likely though is the access into his personal email accounts and whilst Peter, I'm certain would never have put anything sensitive or classified into those accounts, when you're travelling every day between London and Belfast the office have to be able to communicate with you and send you emails.
"If those emails were hacked together, if patterns were formed about what Peter was doing, who he was meeting, what time he was meeting them, yes - all kinds of things could have been compromised including the lives of the public because regrettably the 4,000 deaths that happened during the Troubles, many of those people died because of little bits of intelligence, little bits of loose talk.""If those emails were hacked together, if patterns were formed about what Peter was doing, who he was meeting, what time he was meeting them, yes - all kinds of things could have been compromised including the lives of the public because regrettably the 4,000 deaths that happened during the Troubles, many of those people died because of little bits of intelligence, little bits of loose talk."
Mr Woodward said it was likely that his computer had also been tampered with.Mr Woodward said it was likely that his computer had also been tampered with.
"If it's the case that Peter's account were hacked it's because he was secretary of state for Northern Ireland," he said."If it's the case that Peter's account were hacked it's because he was secretary of state for Northern Ireland," he said.
"I was the longest serving secretary of state for Northern Ireland."I was the longest serving secretary of state for Northern Ireland.
Over the years that I was there and before as security minister I was dealing with all those issues that ultimately related to the final agreement at Hillsborough at the beginning of 2010.Over the years that I was there and before as security minister I was dealing with all those issues that ultimately related to the final agreement at Hillsborough at the beginning of 2010.
"So if Peter was of interest because he was secretary of state for Northern Ireland, it would follow that the following secretary of state for Northern Ireland would have been as much of interest and, indeed, more of interest.""So if Peter was of interest because he was secretary of state for Northern Ireland, it would follow that the following secretary of state for Northern Ireland would have been as much of interest and, indeed, more of interest."
Mr Woodward was secretary of state for Northern Ireland from 2007-10.Mr Woodward was secretary of state for Northern Ireland from 2007-10.
It was revealed on Tuesday that Mr Hain had spoken with detectives from 'Operation Tuleta' investigating allegations that his official and personal computers had been hacked during his time as secretary of state for Northern Ireland.It was revealed on Tuesday that Mr Hain had spoken with detectives from 'Operation Tuleta' investigating allegations that his official and personal computers had been hacked during his time as secretary of state for Northern Ireland.
A spokesman said Mr Hain had instructed a lawyer to act on his behalf.A spokesman said Mr Hain had instructed a lawyer to act on his behalf.
The Labour MP, now shadow Welsh secretary, was secretary of state for Northern Ireland from 2005 to 2007.The Labour MP, now shadow Welsh secretary, was secretary of state for Northern Ireland from 2005 to 2007.
He was involved in peace negotiations and as a result would have had access to sensitive security data.He was involved in peace negotiations and as a result would have had access to sensitive security data.
A News International spokeswoman has said the company was "co-operating fully with the police" on all investigations.A News International spokeswoman has said the company was "co-operating fully with the police" on all investigations.