A huge data breach by the PSNI could end up costing Northern Ireland's police service up to £220 million, MPs have been told.
The information came as a senior officer briefed politicians on the mistaken publication of the details of all 10,000 officers and staff by the PSNI on 8 August.
It happened when a Freedom of Information response was botched and the details of staff were attached.
The information is in the hands of dissident republicans.
It includes the surname and first initial of every employee, their rank or grade, gender, where they are based and the unit in which they work.
Assistant Chief Constable Chris Todd told the Northern Ireland Affairs committee at Westminster that initial "recovery costs" would be between £24m and £37m.
That is thought to refer to the cost of additional security for affected staff.
But Mr Todd said the cost of potential future litigation by staff had been estimated at between £115m and £180m.
"That's a worst case scenario," he said.
Former chief constable Simon Byrne had been due to give evidence to a Westminster committee on the data breach this morning prior to his resignation.
But representatives of various police unions did attend.
Liam Kelly of the Police Federation said the resignation of Mr Byrne was "the right thing to do". He described it as a "sad but inevitable end" to Mr Byrne's career.
He also raised questions over the future of Deputy Chief Constable Mark Hamilton who has assumed responsibility for the service pending the appointment of a successor.
Mr Kelly said given that Mr Hamilton had also been criticised in the damning court judgement which ended Mr Byrne's career, he was "still vulnerable".
The Policing Board is to carry out a review of the top echelons of PSNI leadership.
Mr Kelly set out a sobering assessment of PSNI morale describing the service as being in "a dark place, in a downward spiral".
He said that had been exacerbated by the data breach which had left his 6,500 members feeling "betrayed" that it had been their employer who had inadvertently published it.
People had been left "appalled, shocked, dismayed and scared".
MPs were told a huge budget deficit was also playing into a very difficult situation.
It currently stands at around £50m but the bill from security measures for officers and potential litigation could see that rocket.
Mr Kelly said it would take cash from the UK government to address the very serious financial issues the PSNI faced.
Superintendent Gerry Murray, who represents Catholic officers, said he had been asked since the breach whether they should take their personal protection weapons to mass.
"My advice to them is yes, you do," Superintendent Murray said.
"Our members are frightened, scared. They've no idea what tomorrow will bring to them."
He said one Catholic officer with a young family had decided to resign due to his concern about the potential threat.
Superintendent Murray said most Catholic officers would stay, but with only 33% of the PSNI from such a background they would struggle to attract more once a current moratorium on recruitment was lifted.
