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| Gerry Adams suffered 'unjustified attack' by BBC, says lawyer | Gerry Adams suffered 'unjustified attack' by BBC, says lawyer |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Gerry Adams alleges the BBC defamed him by falsely claiming he sanctioned the killing of Denis Donaldson | Gerry Adams alleges the BBC defamed him by falsely claiming he sanctioned the killing of Denis Donaldson |
| Gerry Adams' reputation as a peacemaker suffered "an unjustified attack" by the BBC, which wrongly alleged he sanctioned the murder of informer Denis Donaldson in 2006, the High Court in Dublin has been told. | Gerry Adams' reputation as a peacemaker suffered "an unjustified attack" by the BBC, which wrongly alleged he sanctioned the murder of informer Denis Donaldson in 2006, the High Court in Dublin has been told. |
| The claim was made by a lawyer for Mr Adams who is suing the broadcaster for defamation. | The claim was made by a lawyer for Mr Adams who is suing the broadcaster for defamation. |
| He said the BBC had committed a "journalistic no-no" by relying on unverified claims made by an anonymous single source. | He said the BBC had committed a "journalistic no-no" by relying on unverified claims made by an anonymous single source. |
| The former Sinn Féin president believes he was defamed in a 2016 programme and online article which, he claims, wrongly alleged he sanctioned the murder of an informer, Denis Donaldson. | The former Sinn Féin president believes he was defamed in a 2016 programme and online article which, he claims, wrongly alleged he sanctioned the murder of an informer, Denis Donaldson. |
| 'No verifiable evidence' | 'No verifiable evidence' |
| Mr Donaldson, who had worked for Sinn Féin, was shot dead in Donegal in 2006, months after admitting his role as a police and MI5 agent for 20 years. | Mr Donaldson, who had worked for Sinn Féin, was shot dead in Donegal in 2006, months after admitting his role as a police and MI5 agent for 20 years. |
| Mr Adams, 76, denies any involvement. | Mr Adams, 76, denies any involvement. |
| In 2009, the Real IRA admitted killing Mr Donaldson. | In 2009, the Real IRA admitted killing Mr Donaldson. |
| Mr Adams' lawyer claimed the BBC did not meet the thresholds of responsible journalism – it presented "no verifiable evidence" to support the allegation. | Mr Adams' lawyer claimed the BBC did not meet the thresholds of responsible journalism – it presented "no verifiable evidence" to support the allegation. |
| He said: "Many people say many things about Gerry Adams and he may have sued before, but over time he has let matters go, usually on legal advice. | He said: "Many people say many things about Gerry Adams and he may have sued before, but over time he has let matters go, usually on legal advice. |
| "But he wasn't willing to let this matter pass." | "But he wasn't willing to let this matter pass." |
| "It wasn't responsible journalism, it was reckless journalism," the lawyer added. | "It wasn't responsible journalism, it was reckless journalism," the lawyer added. |
| 'Matter of public interest' | 'Matter of public interest' |
| In his opening remarks to the jury, Mr Justice Alexander Owens outlined several matters of law which he said could be relevant for the jury. | In his opening remarks to the jury, Mr Justice Alexander Owens outlined several matters of law which he said could be relevant for the jury. |
| He said "one of the issues, maybe the big issue" was whether the allegedly defamatory words were a "fair and reasonable publication on a matter of public interest". | He said "one of the issues, maybe the big issue" was whether the allegedly defamatory words were a "fair and reasonable publication on a matter of public interest". |
| He said it was up to the BBC to prove this if it were to be used as a defence. | He said it was up to the BBC to prove this if it were to be used as a defence. |
| Mr Adams also alleges he was defamed in a BBC online article based on the broadcast, a BBC NI Spotlight TV documentary, which contained claims made by an anonymous source. | Mr Adams also alleges he was defamed in a BBC online article based on the broadcast, a BBC NI Spotlight TV documentary, which contained claims made by an anonymous source. |
| Denis Donaldson was a key figure in Sinn Féin and worked closely with former leaders Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams | |
| Gerry Adams is seeking damages, alleging his reputation was damaged. | |
| The case is expected to last a number of weeks. | The case is expected to last a number of weeks. |
| During pre-trial hearings, the BBC argued the broadcast and publication were put out in good faith and concerned a matter of public interest. | During pre-trial hearings, the BBC argued the broadcast and publication were put out in good faith and concerned a matter of public interest. |
| It stated the reports constituted responsible journalism as a result of careful investigation. | It stated the reports constituted responsible journalism as a result of careful investigation. |
| Speaking outside court on Tuesday morning, Mr Adams said he had sought a retraction of the claims in the online article but the BBC had refused. | Speaking outside court on Tuesday morning, Mr Adams said he had sought a retraction of the claims in the online article but the BBC had refused. |
| "Not only did they not correct it but, to this day, it is still on their website so here we are nine years later," he said. | "Not only did they not correct it but, to this day, it is still on their website so here we are nine years later," he said. |
| "I'm looking to see the record corrected." | "I'm looking to see the record corrected." |
| He added that if he was offered compensation he would donate it to "good causes". | He added that if he was offered compensation he would donate it to "good causes". |
| Adams in the witness box | |
| On Tuesday afternoon, Mr Adams' lawyer said that the BBC Spotlight programme did not air in June as planned after the BBC failed to get a reply from Gerry Adams after writing to him at his constituency office in County Louth. | |
| He said that after being contacted again, a solicitor wrote a letter back to the BBC on behalf of Mr Adams stating that he had no knowledge of the killing and murder of Denis Donaldson. | |
| The letter also rejected suggestions that Mr Adams had been consulted about what had happened to Denis Donaldson. | |
| After his lawyer's opening statement, Mr Adams went into the witness box for about 40 minutes. | After his lawyer's opening statement, Mr Adams went into the witness box for about 40 minutes. |
| He answered questions from his barrister about his family background and political matters in Northern Ireland in the 1950s and 1960s. | He answered questions from his barrister about his family background and political matters in Northern Ireland in the 1950s and 1960s. |
| Mr Adams will resume giving evidence on Wednesday. | Mr Adams will resume giving evidence on Wednesday. |
| Who is Gerry Adams? | Who is Gerry Adams? |
| Mr Adams was the former president of republican party Sinn Féin from 1983 until 2018. | Mr Adams was the former president of republican party Sinn Féin from 1983 until 2018. |
| He served as MP in his native west Belfast from 1997 until 2011 before sitting as a TD (Teachta Dála) in the Dáil (Irish parliament) between 2011 and 2020. | He served as MP in his native west Belfast from 1997 until 2011 before sitting as a TD (Teachta Dála) in the Dáil (Irish parliament) between 2011 and 2020. |
| Mr Adams led the Sinn Féin delegation during peace talks that eventually brought an end to the Troubles after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. | Mr Adams led the Sinn Féin delegation during peace talks that eventually brought an end to the Troubles after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. |
| He was detained in the early 1970s when the government in Northern Ireland introduced internment without trial for those suspected of paramilitary involvement. | He was detained in the early 1970s when the government in Northern Ireland introduced internment without trial for those suspected of paramilitary involvement. |
| Mr Adams has consistently denied being a member of the IRA. | Mr Adams has consistently denied being a member of the IRA. |
| Who was Denis Donaldson? | Who was Denis Donaldson? |
| Denis Donaldson was found dead in a run-down cottage in County Donegal | Denis Donaldson was found dead in a run-down cottage in County Donegal |
| Mr Donaldson was once a key figure in Sinn Féin's rise as a political force in Northern Ireland but he was found brutally murdered in 2006 after it emerged he had been a spy. | Mr Donaldson was once a key figure in Sinn Féin's rise as a political force in Northern Ireland but he was found brutally murdered in 2006 after it emerged he had been a spy. |
| He was interned without trial for periods in the 1970s. | He was interned without trial for periods in the 1970s. |
| After the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, Sinn Féin appointed Mr Donaldson as their key administrator in the party's Stormont offices. | After the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, Sinn Féin appointed Mr Donaldson as their key administrator in the party's Stormont offices. |
| In 2005 Mr Donaldson confessed that he was a spy for British intelligence for two decades, before disappearing from Belfast. | In 2005 Mr Donaldson confessed that he was a spy for British intelligence for two decades, before disappearing from Belfast. |
| He was found dead in a small, run down cottage in Glenties, County Donegal. | He was found dead in a small, run down cottage in Glenties, County Donegal. |