NI teen accused over cyber attack on top telecoms firm pleads guilty to one charge

A SOLICITOR for a Northern Ireland teenager has entered a guilty plea on his client’s behalf to being part of the high-profile hacking of telecoms giant TalkTalk.

The Co Antrim boy, who was aged 15 at the time of the cyber incident in October 2015, faces two charges.

He has admitted one but is denying the other.

The teenager, who cannot be named because of his age at the time of the offences, was not present at Ballymena Youth Court yesterday.

His solicitor Garret McCann said his client was pleading guilty to the first charge he faces.

That relates to unauthorised access to computer material between October 15 and October 22, 2015.

The lawyer entered a not guilty plea to the second charge his client faces relating to the same dates, where he is accused of an unauthorised act impairing the operation of a computer.

Regarding the contested charge, Mr McCann said he believed the case could last a minimum of a week and said “it could come down to a simple issue of mens rea” (intent).

The TalkTalk incident led to widespread media coverage.

In October 2015 the PSNI said: “A 15-year-old youth, arrested in Co Antrim yesterday as part of the investigation into the alleged theft of data from the firm TalkTalk, has been released on bail pending further enquiries.”

The police added that a full investigation was being conducted by the cyber crime unit of the Metropolitan Police, the PSNI and the National Crime Agency.

A number of other people have appeared in courts in other parts of the UK in connection with the cyber attack on the telecommunications firm. TalkTalk previously described how it fell victim to a “significant and sustained” attack on its website in October 2015.

The personal data of more than 150,000 customers was accessed. The company was later hit by a fine of £400,000 for security failings.

The firm said the fallout from the cyber attack cost it £42m, which included a number of security upgrades to its computer system. It later said customer numbers had “bounced back” following an initial dip.