Former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams won €100,000 (£84,000) in damages over a BBC story about the murder of a British agent. The court found the former leader defamed in a 2016 BBC NI Spotlight programme and accompanying online article, which alleged he sanctioned the 2006 murder of Denis Donaldson.
Adams denies any involvement and stated that taking the case was “about putting manners on the British Broadcasting Corporation”. The legal bill for the case is estimated to be between €3-5 million (£2.5-4.2m).
The trial at the High Court in Dublin heard from 10 witnesses, including Adams and BBC NI reporter Jennifer O’Leary. A jury ultimately found words used in the programme meant Adams sanctioned and approved Donaldson’s murder, as well as that the BBC did not report allegations in good faith.
Adams thanked the court and expressed sympathy for the Donaldson family during the trial. His solicitor called the allegations “totally untrue and defamatory” and praised the jury’s verdict as a resounding victory for accuracy and standards at the BBC.
The BBC had argued that the story was fair and reasonable reporting on a matter of public interest, but said it was disappointed with the outcome. The director of BBC NI stated that the implications of the court win were “profound” and that freedom of expression could be hindered by the decision.
The case is one of the most expensive defended by the corporation to date.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ceqg138lzr3o