Gerry Adams tells High Court he won't 'speculate' about who was in charge of the IRA in 1970s
GERRY ADAMS HAS said he would not 'speculate' on who was in the IRA, during a defamation case he has taken against the BBC.
The former Sinn Féin leader said an attempt is being made to 'smother' the jury in history as he was questioned over past statements and events during The Troubles.
Adams faced cross-examination over his knowledge of who was in the IRA and the organisation's rules, on which he repeatedly said he would not 'speculate' in court.
Asked about who was in charge of the West Belfast brigade of the IRA in 1972, Adams said: 'I'm not going to speculate.'
He said a number of people had acknowledged publicly that they were members of the IRA but he was 'not prepared to speculate in this court' on who would have been in the IRA at any time.
Barrister for the BBC Paul Gallagher SC asked Adams whether his answer was that throughout the period of The Troubles, apart from people who identified themselves as members of the IRA, that he was not aware of who was in the IRA.
'You don't seem to be prepared to accept my answers,' Adams replied.
Adams is continuing to give evidence in his defamation case against the BBC at the High Court in Dublin.
He claims a BBC Spotlight programme, and an accompanying online story, defamed him by alleging he sanctioned the killing of the former Sinn Féin official Denis Donaldson.
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.
Adams denies any involvement.
In 2009, the Real IRA admitted killing Donaldson.
The Spotlight programme was broadcast in September 2016.
The trial opened last week with barrister for Adams, Tom Hogan SC, saying the former Sinn Fein president's reputation as a 'peacemaker' had suffered an 'unjustified' attack because of the broadcast of the BBC programme.
In the witness box, Adams said he 'liked' and 'knew' Mr Donaldson, but did not have many dealings with him.
Beginning his cross-examination on Friday afternoon, Paul Gallagher SC asked Adams if he remembered how many people were killed in various atrocities during The Troubles.
Adams told the hearing he did not remember how many people were killed in incidents such as Bloody Friday or the Claudy bombings, and asked what it had to do with Donaldson.
Today, Adams entered the witness box for a fifth day.
Advertisement
The jury was shown a montage of various broadcast footage of interviews with figures such as Peter McMullan, who said he was a former IRA member who worked with Adams in the Belfast brigade.
The jury were also shown a video clip of Adams from 1987 where he was asked about the death of Charles McIlmurray.
'Mr McIlmurray, like anyone living in West Belfast knows, that the consequence of informing is death,' he said in the clip.
Under cross-examination from Gallagher, Adams said his remark was 'very harsh' but was made along with other comments at a press conference including expressing his commiserations with the family of McIlmurray.
He denied that the statement was made as a warning or a threat, or that he was attributing blame to Mr McIlmurray.
Gallagher asked him several times if he was aware of the structures and rules of the IRA, to which Adams said several times he would not 'speculate' in court and had already answered the question.
'I don't intend to speculate on any of those issues in relation to the IRA,' Adams said.
When pressed on whether he was not going to answer any questions in relation to the IRA, Adams said an attempt was made to 'smother them (the jury) in an awful history'.
'What on earth has this got to do with Denis Donaldson,' Adams said.
Adams was also asked about an interview with the Guardian in 1982 which the court heard quotes him as stating that the only complaints he had from republicans and anti-unionists about the death of politician Norman Stronge in 1981 was that he was not shot 40 years ago.
Adams said his comments reflected opinion at the time, and said he himself was 'shocked' by the killing.
'It's a matter of history, it's done,' he said.
Under questioning, he said: 'I have never resiled from my view that the IRA's campaign, whatever about elements of it, was a legitimate response to military occupation.'
He said he was not 'resiling' from that position while on the stand.
Adams said he could not comment on why people including informers were 'disappeared' during the Troubles, but called it 'horrific'.
'It was wrong, bad enough that informers were being killed, but to disappear their bodies was totally and absolutely wrong.'
He told the court he believes he had met all the families of those who were shot and secretly buried by the IRA.
Adams, 76, stepped down as Sinn Féin president in 2018 after 34 years at the helm.
He served as an MP for West Belfast and represented the Louth constituency in the Dáil parliament until the 2020 general election, when he retired from politics.
The trial, which is expected to last four weeks, continues.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Times
7 hours ago
- Irish Times
Gerry Adams defamation verdict won't have a chilling effect on journalism - and here's why
The defamation case between Gerry Adams and the BBC has many points of interest, legally and politically, but its implications for journalism have been vastly overstated. The former Sinn Féin president won in Dublin's High Court last week because the BBC broadcast a serious allegation against him in a programme that cited only one anonymous source, with no corroboration. Every news organisation would aspire to do better than this under almost all circumstances. Part of the BBC's defence is that it should still have been able to broadcast the claim, aired by its Northern Ireland investigation strand Spotlight in 2016, as a matter of public interest. There are often cases where it is impossible to name sources or publish corroborating evidence. To do so might place people in danger, expose them to prosecution or breach essential promises of confidentiality. READ MORE Irish defamation law allows for a public-interest defence, but this has yet to be used successfully. The BBC is not alone in fearing the law is not working as intended. [ If Gerry Adams wanted to put manners on the BBC, why not do it in Belfast? Opens in new window ] Even in a matter of public interest, however, a news organisation should still demonstrate a serious allegation is more than one person's claim. The BBC said in court it had corroboration from five other confidential sources, but it had not mentioned this in programme, to be fair to Adams. The court was unimpressed by this argument, and little wonder. The BBC's final defence was that there must be freedom to report on figures of historical importance and losing to Adams could create a chill factor over investigations into the Troubles. It asked the jury to make no award of damages, even if it found Spotlight's claim to be untrue. The best insight into how the BBC handles a mistake comes not from the insinuations of Gerry Adams but from Terry Wogan, a truly great Irishman, who after every crisis would quip: 'Deputy heads must head roll' Yet the judge had been clear throughout that the case was not about the Troubles. The jury was instructed to decide if Adams had rehabilitated his reputation sufficiently as a 'peacemaker' after the Belfast Agreement for a 2016 allegation about a 2006 murder to damage his reputation. The jury found it had, although its €100,000 award was on the lower end of what might have been expected. Many Troubles victims will be dismayed to hear Adams described as a peacemaker, but his Troubles reputation remains where it belongs. Speaking outside court after the verdict, Adams said taking the case was 'about putting manners on the British Broadcasting Corporation'. Seamus Dooley, secretary of the National Union of Journalists , condemned this comment as 'chilling', as well as 'unfair and unreasonable', given Spotlight's 40-year record of 'amazing investigative journalism'. An Amnesty report this week found Northern Ireland is the most dangerous place in the UK to be a journalist. Public figures have a responsibility not to make matters worse. However, Adams's remark will not have made much difference to anyone: it was a familiar sort of jibe, to be enjoyed by a harmless republican audience. Only loyalists and dissident republicans pose a physical threat to the media. Adams added he suspected the BBC had come under 'direct political interference' to continue a case it could have settled years earlier with an apology. It is only slightly facetious to suggest that Sinn Féin has already benefited enough from murky British dealings. What political motivation could there be to press on with a plainly weak case that was almost certain to work out in Adams's favour? The obvious explanation is by far the most likely: the BBC pressed on because it is an intractable bureaucracy with no respect for public money. Adams might be familiar with the concept of an organisation that struggles to back down. There has been a recent, relevant demonstration of this culture within BBC Northern Ireland. In 2023, it reached a confidential settlement in an alleged bullying case with a Spotlight producer, Lena Ferguson. She received an award and costs with no admission of liability. The BBC then issued a statement congratulating itself. 'We didn't want to be in a lengthy dispute with Lena and are happy that we can all now move forward,' it said. Yet the case had dragged out for four years, involving allegations dating back 20 years from Ferguson and others. The problem became serious enough to be raised in the House of Commons. Many people in the media in Belfast feared Spotlight had become dysfunctional, with implications for the quality of its journalism. They were appalled by the BBC's legal obstinacy towards Ferguson but hardly surprised. The best insight into how the BBC handles a mistake comes not from the insinuations of Gerry Adams but from Terry Wogan, a truly great Irishman, who after every crisis would quip: 'Deputy heads must roll.' We may be years away from even that stage of this fiasco.
Irish Independent
10 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Letters: No matter the provocation from Hamas, the response from Israel is inhumane
One can argue that Israel had the right to use the standard military doctrine of overwhelming force to prosecute its military response and not seek or accept proportionality of casualties. One can argue that given the urban character and high population density of Gaza, collateral damage and high civilian casualties were inevitable. One can argue that Hamas's well-documented tactic of using schools and hospitals for command and control posts, ammunition dumps and firing points – effectively using children and the sick as human shields – could lead to these people being targeted. One can argue that the group's tactic of firing from buildings to lure Israeli infantry before detonating mines could lead to a corresponding Israeli tactic of wholesale destruction of these buildings, rather than the normal practice of clearing house-by-house. One can also argue that Hamas's strategy of retaining the hostages in the face of this onslaught has allowed Israel to retain the semblance of moral rectitude and given cover for its heavy-handedness. But the deliberate collective punishment and starvation of 2.2 million people and the expulsion from one area to another within the Gaza Strip in forced evacuations is inhumane and dehumanising. R Healy, Mullagh, Co Cavan US should look at itself before it lectures other nations about free speech Ian O'Doherty tells us that the United States has taken it upon itself to warn Ireland over the dangers of our proposed hate-speech legislation ('Free speech, America and the EU: we know which way our leaders will lean' – June 4). It was a 'friendly chat', apparently, though such chats from Washington often come with a raised eyebrow and a wagging finger. This is from a country whose president has already vowed to prosecute journalists he dislikes, has banned sections of the press from the White House briefing room and routinely refers to unfavourable coverage as 'treason', all while border agents inspect travellers' social media accounts for impure thoughts. The First Amendment is a fine principle, but its most ardent defenders often appear oddly selective in their defence of it, especially when abroad. Before advising sovereign nations on freedom of expression, the US might take a moment to recall the old maxim: physician, heal thyself. Enda Cullen, Tullysaran Road, Armagh If Adams runs for the Áras, we can't blame the electorate if he doesn't get elected Senan Molony suggests that if former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams becomes our next president it will be the fault of the BBC ('If Adams becomes next president, it would be ironic the BBC paved the way' – June 4). I wonder if Mr Adams does decide to run for the Áras and is not successful, will it then be the fault of the electorate? I would ultimately give the electorate the respect they deserve no matter what the outcome. Aidan Roddy, Cabinteely, Dublin 18 If you value love, not hate, stand with us at Pride marches across Ireland I am in my 30s and have been protesting since I was six years of age. I remember going with all of the kids in my class to the local government building to campaign for them to fund our secondary school. That school opened when I was 16. I have marched for marriage equality, for Repeal; I've protested alongside Trans and Intersex Pride; for Irish language rights; in solidarity with Palestine and much more. Marching together for a common cause is empowering to those affected and for those who love us. Pride is no different. This year, Dublin alone has a 'Dyke March' (June 27), Pride (June 28) and Trans & Intersex Pride (July 12). Then there are all the Pride parades around the country. All of these marches are moments of unity for us, when we stand together proudly against a world that is telling us to be quiet, to be grateful for what we have, to expect less for ourselves and for other oppressed peoples. If you want to stand on the sidelines and support us, bring your kids, bring your grandparents. If you want to march with us, find a group or make a group and march with us in solidarity. The rise of hatred towards minority groups in this country terrifies me. The changes in the wider world are almost incomprehensible. Take a stand, with us, for us, together against those who would oppress us. Jess Connor, Glasnevin, Dublin 9 Times have changed, but you still can't beat having a newspaper in your hands On Thursday, May 25, 1995, the final editions of the Irish Press and Evening Press were published. I remember at that time fearing it might well be the tip of the iceberg and that many other papers were likely to follow. Some did, but thankfully many are still available to accompany the pint of milk back to the breakfast table. Despite technology and the advent of various media, the 'real' newspaper is still number one in our house, as it was in the house in which I grew up in the 1950s and 60s. With regard to this canonical matter, Flann O'Brien's assertion on the 'pint of plain' could wittingly be applied, 'the paper is your only man'. Michael Gannon, St Thomas Square, Kilkenny Time to draw a line under the use of pen and paper by students in State exams That students still put pen to paper in the Leaving and Junior Certificate in our computerised world is a joke. They should leave school equipped with software development skills. Liam Doran, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 Forget 'Winkgate' – Reds can still hold their heads high in spite of defeat I'm sorry to see such a massive match was soured by a cynical wink from Sharks scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse in his side's win over Munster in the URC quarter-final last Saturday. But to his credit, Jack Crowley never blinked. The Reds can still walk tall.
Irish Post
18 hours ago
- Irish Post
BBC to restrict overseas access to BBC Sounds, cutting off Irish listeners
THE BBC has confirmed it will block international access to its BBC Sounds platform in 2025, ending online availability of its radio stations, including BBC Radio Ulster and Radio Foyle, for listeners in the Republic of Ireland. The move is part of a broader strategy to make BBC Sounds exclusive to UK audiences, like the geo-blocking already applied to BBC iPlayer. Under the new model, international users will instead be directed to a new audio section on their website, where access is limited to selected podcasts and just two radio stations: BBC World Service and BBC Radio 4. This new restriction will most immediately affect those counties in Ireland along the border; Donegal, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan and Louth. 'This change ensures BBC Sounds is only available to those who pay the licence fee,' a BBC spokesperson said, adding that it allows the organisation to deliver 'better value for UK audiences'. For listeners in Ireland, particularly those near the border who rely on Radio Ulster and Radio Foyle, the change is seen as more than just technical. Independent media analyst Jim Waterson told BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback programme that while the move makes commercial sense, 'a lot of people in London forget about the small matter of the border on the island of Ireland.' He said many would consider it reasonable to ask overseas listeners to pay or view advertising, 'but there are wider cultural consequences here that aren't being addressed.' Former BBC journalist Shane Harrison said the decision may violate the spirit of cross-border cooperation outlined in the Good Friday Agreement and a 2010 memorandum of understanding between the UK and Irish governments. The memorandum recognised public broadcasting's role in 'promoting cultural diversity, educational programming, and objective public information' across the island of Ireland. Professor Kevin Curran, a cybersecurity expert at Ulster University, added that while geo-blocking is technically simple, the BBC has chosen not to make exceptions. 'If the BBC wanted to allow access in Ireland, it could be done quite easily; it could probably be done in a morning,' he said. The BBC named "rights limitations" as a factor in the decision. Much of its content involves third-party agreements that restrict international use. The change also allows its commercial arm, BBC Studios, to make money from international content through advertising on their website, revenue that flows back into the public service broadcaster. The Republic of Ireland's Department of Culture said the move is 'entirely a matter for the BBC', while Britain's Department for Culture, Media and Sport said that the broadcaster is editorially and operationally independent. While BBC Radio content will remain available via platforms like Spotify, the full experience of BBC Sounds, including live local radio, will no longer be accessible online outside Britain and Northern Ireland. For many in Ireland, the decision is a step back from decades of cross-border media access. As one listener toldFeedback on BBC Radio 4, 'We don't just listen to Radio Ulster out of habit; it's part of our identity.' The Irish Post has contacted the BBC for comment and has yet to hear back.
