Former Sinn Fein chief Gerry Adams has been awarded €100,000 (£84,000) in damages after profitable his defamation motion towards the BBC.
The 76-year-old had claimed a BBC Highlight programme and a web-based article revealed in 2016 defamed him by falsely accusing him of sanctioning the homicide of British informant Denis Donaldson.
Mr Donaldson, 55, was shot lifeless at a cottage close to Glenties, County Donegal in 2006, months after being uncovered as a British agent.
Throughout the civil defamation trial on the Excessive Court docket in Dublin, Mr Adams claimed the Highlight programme was an “attempted hatchet job” that was “full of inaccuracies”.
The programme featured an nameless IRA supply named “Martin” who mentioned that murders needed to be accredited by the political and army management of the IRA. When pressed on who he was referring to, “Martin” replied: “Gerry Adams. He gives the final say”.
Mr Adams, who spent seven days within the witness field in the course of the trial, described the allegation as a “grievous smear”.
He instructed the courtroom that he had “liked” Mr Donaldson and was “shocked” to be taught of his homicide.
“Personally, I think Denis Donaldson was a victim of the conflict. I don’t see any other way of describing it,” he mentioned.
Picture:
Gerry Adams exterior the Excessive Court docket in Dublin. Pic: PA
Picture:
Martin McGuinnes, Denis Donaldson and Gerry Adams.
Pic: PA
The BBC denied it defamed Mr Adams and claimed the Highlight programme and article have been put out in good religion and in the course of the course of debate on a topic of public and very important curiosity.
The BBC defended its “responsible journalism” that was the results of cautious investigation, and argued it was merely reporting allegations, somewhat than standing over them.
Mr Adams’s authorized workforce sought at the least €200,000 (£168,000) in damages. The previous Sinn Fein president had mentioned he would give any award acquired to good causes.
His testimony in the course of the trial was wide-ranging, together with a prolonged account of his early years and political awakenings. At instances he grew to become emotional as he recalled previous occasions.
Picture:
The scene of the 2006 homicide of Sinn Fein member and British spy Denis Donaldson.
File pic: PA
He mentioned: “Not only had the false allegation regarding our client been the focus of the Spotlight documentary, but it had been utilised to sensationalise and publicise their programme.
“Moreover, the truth that the false allegation has been left on-line for nearly 9 years has, in my view, executed a lot to undermine the excessive requirements of accuracy that’s anticipated of the BBC.
“This case could and should have been resolved some considerable time ago.”
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