Gerry Adams wins libel case against BBC over Spotlight allegations
Former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has been awarded 100,000 euro (£84,000) in damages after winning his libel action against the BBC at the High Court in Dublin.
The former Sinn Féin leader alleged a BBC Spotlight programme, and an accompanying online story, defamed him by alleging he sanctioned the killing of former Sinn Fein official Denis Donaldson. He denies any involvement.
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STV News
14 minutes ago
- STV News
Brother of woman killed by speeding driver reveals family's 'devastation'
The brother of a nursing student killed by a speeding driver in Glasgow has spoken of the family's 'devastation' and how the tragedy will always 'remain in our hearts and minds'. Chinenye Okonkwo died after being hit by an Audi A4 that mounted the pavement as she waited to cross a road in Glasgow city centre in February 2023. The 33-year-old, who was studying Public Health at Glasgow Caledonian University, was crushed between railings and the front of the car. The driver, Akbar Razaq, who was going at double the 30mph speed limit, was jailed for more than three years last week. Speaking to STV News, Chinenye's brother, Henry, revealed how the incident impacted their family. He said, 'Her dreams being cut short by this unfortunate incident will always remain in our hearts and minds because she truly had a very big dream. Being a nurse, getting a house, and getting that degree was something that she wanted at all costs. 'When you see a young girl with such dreams, you need to support her and help her achieve them, but unfortunately, this happened.' Nigerian-born Chinenye had moved to the UK in 2022 to study in Glasgow, and had recently started a part-time job at a nursing home in the city's east end. She was walking on her way to start a shift when she was hit in the fatal crash. Henry continued: 'We were so happy with her achievements in such a short time, then not even two months later, we lost her. 'It broke my parents, my mum fell ill, my dad, who is in his 70s, also fell ill, and he was so weak. When this news broke to them, they just broke down; everyone was devastated. 'All we could do was try to keep ourselves strong.' Razaq was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow on Thursday having earlier admitted to a charge of causing death by dangerous driving. Lord Mulholland jailed him for three years and four months and banned him from the road for eight years and two months. Henry believes his sister got the justice she deserved as the family now begin a healing process. He said: 'After the hearing, I spoke with my parents and told them the outcome, and I explained it to them, which was really emotional. 'I believe that we have given Chinenye the justice that she deserved. 'Families don't want to remember certain things for a long time, they just want to move away from it and get better, so there is a long way to go but I do believe we can get better.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Belfast Telegraph
4 hours ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Judge accused Gerry Adams' barrister of ‘barracking' witness – then apologised for making criticism
The judge in the Gerry Adams defamation trial accused one of the former Sinn Féin leader's barristers of barracking a witness – but later apologised to the lawyer for being 'bad-tempered' with him. Mr Justice Alexander Owens criticised part of Tom Hogan SC's cross examination of Jennifer O'Leary, the BBC Spotlight reporter in the 'Spy In the IRA' programme that Mr Adams claimed defamed him.
Telegraph
4 hours ago
- Telegraph
BBC bans journalist who said ‘Israelis are not human beings'
A Gaza reporter who was exposed after describing Jews as 'devils' has been banned by the BBC. The corporation has ordered its Arabic channel to stop using Ahmed Alagha, who was a regular contributor to its coverage of the Israeli war against Hamas. The ban came after The Telegraph revealed in April that Mr Alagha had been accused of describing Israelis as sadistic and less than human. He appeared twice on BBC Arabic after this newspaper exposed his social media comments, once just a few hours after The Telegraph's story had been published, and again on May 12. When Mr Alagha's continued appearances were brought to the BBC's attention, corporation sources stated he would no longer be used on its programmes, ordering its Arabic channel to keep him off air. It comes after continued controversy over the output of BBC Arabic, which critics have described as being biased against Israel, amid claims that several of its contributors have repeatedly made anti-Semitic comments. In May, the BBC's chairman, Dr Samir Shah, announced the broadcaster will appoint an independent figure to investigate its Arabic channel as part of a review of the standard of its reporting of the Middle East conflict. 'The Jews are the devils of the hypocrites' Mr Alagha, who was billed on air as a Palestinian journalist, has appeared on BBC Arabic reporting from Gaza numerous times since January last year. He has appeared to have singled out Jews for condemnation and praised the killing of Israeli civilians on his social media accounts. Responding to footage of Gaza tower blocks being bombed by Israel following the October 7 attacks, Mr Alagha posted on X, formerly Twitter, a few days later: 'This is not a Hollywood film; this is what was done to these towers in Gaza City at the hands of the Israeli occupation, and it's happening to us in Gaza. 'It [the Israeli occupation] is the embodiment of filth, the unrivalled swamp of wickedness. As for the Jews, they are the devils of the hypocrites.' The following day, he posted: 'And as we know, the 'Israelis' are not human beings to begin with, rather they are not even beasts. Perhaps they belong to a race for which no description can capture the extent of their lust and sadism.' 'BBC is trapped in an echo chamber' The Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis (Camera), a media campaign group, has called for the BBC to crack down on its Arabic channel's use of contributors it says cannot be trusted to deliver objective and balanced broadcasting. A spokesman for Camera UK said: 'The BBC has finally done the right thing regarding Ahmad Alagha. Nevertheless, his and Afifa's stories clearly demonstrate that the process by which the BBC obtains and broadcasts Gaza Strip information is deeply flawed – with Israel's restrictions on journalists entering Gaza not being nearly as relevant as the corporation claims they are. 'BBC Arabic's editors specifically seem to be trapped inside an echo chamber. Such dehumanising statements about Jews and Israelis reflect a deep failure to meet even the most basic standards required from a journalist reporting live from Gaza; yet the editors kept using the individual who made them, even when his record was publicly known. 'This precedent, which would be unimaginable were Alagha to target any other minority group in the UK, let alone a group involved in the same conflict he purports to cover.' Danny Cohen, the former director of BBC Television said: 'It is both horrifying and astonishing that a reporter who has spouted anti-Semitism was allowed back on air after his vile racism was exposed. 'His appearing on BBC Arabic in the first place was indefensible – simple checks would have revealed his unacceptable views. 'The fact that he was allowed to return after his racism became public knowledge is further evidence of the deep-seated systemic problems of bias, extremism and antisemitism at BBC Arabic. 'BBC management needs to get a grip. If the BBC Arabic service cannot be reformed, it should be shut down.' Broadcasting sources said BBC Arabic had been instructed not to use Mr Alagha as a contributing reporter or commentator again. A BBC spokesman said: 'Ahmed Alagha is not a BBC member of staff or part of the BBC's reporting team. His social media posts do not reflect the BBC's view, and we are absolutely clear that there is no place for anti-Semitism on our services. We will not be using him as a contributor in this way again.' Mr Alagha has recently removed his X social media account.
