Gerry Adams says case ‘about putting manners on BBC' as cost of libel action may be ‘many millions'

Belfast Telegraph

a day ago

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The leader of the DUP has said it would be difficult to find a victim of the IRA 'who has changed their view of Gerry Adams' after the former Sinn Fein leader won his libel case against the broadcaster.
Gavin Robinson said the corporation has 'significant questions' to answer about how it ended up in the position of being told to pay €100,000 (£84,000) in damages to Mr Adams. He also claimed the total bill – when costs are factored in – could be 'many millions'.
It comes after the BBC defended its decision to fight the defamation case taken by Mr Adams who won the libel action in the High Court in Dublin on Friday.
The jury agreed with the claimant that a BBC Spotlight programme, and an accompanying online story, defamed him by alleging he sanctioned the killing of former Sinn Fein official Denis Donaldson – Mr Adams has always denied any involvement.
Speaking in both Irish and English outside the court, he said taking this case was 'about putting manners on the British Broadcasting Corporation' and accused the BBC of upholding 'the ethos of the British state in Ireland'.
"And in my view it's out of sync in many, many fronts with the Good Friday Agreement,' Mr Adams added.
Meanwhile the director of BBC NI expressed disappointment at the verdict which found the broadcaster's actions were not in good faith and that it had not acted in a fair and reasonable way.
Adam Smyth said it was 'important' to defend the corporation's journalism as he acknowledged the difficulties of navigating NI's troubled past.
The BBC NI boss also warned there will be 'profound' implications of the jury's decision.
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42 minutes ago
DUP leader says BBC faces 'significant questions'
DUP leader Gavin Robinson says the BBC faces "significant questions" amid reports that costs of fighting Adams' libel action will be "many millions". The East Belfast MP also said his thoughts today are with innocent victims who suffered at the hands of "ruthless" IRA terrorists.
"The Dublin jury decision relates to a specific allegation broadcast and published online by the BBC about Gerry Adams," Mr Robinson said.
"Our thoughts today are with the innocent victims who suffered at the hands of the IRA - ruthless terrorists who were victim-makers for many years. I would struggle to find a victim of IRA violence who has changed their view of Gerry Adams.
"While journalists must always be able to scrutinise and investigate in the public interest, the BBC have significant questions to answer. How have they found themselves in a situation where allegations were insufficiently evidenced with the consequence that license payers money will now be spent on both damages and reputed legal costs running into many millions?"
50 minutes ago
Donaldson's family said Adams trial 'trivialised our family tragedy'
Speaking on behalf of the immediate family, Denis Donaldson's daughter Jane said the trial 'trivialised our family tragedy'.
The case centred on claims contained in a BBC Spotlight programme that Mr Adams had sanctioned the killing of Mr Donaldson, a Sinn Féin official who spied for British authorities.
The statement issued following the outcome of the trial said that "by reducing events which damaged our lives to a debate about damage to [Mr Adams ] reputation" the trial had "trivialised our family tragedy."
"Daddy's murder and surrounding circumstances devastated our family," the statement added.
The statement continued: 'No-one spoke for my family in court. We supported neither side in this case. Although the plaintiff claimed sympathy for my family, his legal team objected to me giving evidence to challenge the account of his witnesses."
In the statement the family said they "are still no closer to the truth."
They added that the case had demonstrated the need for a public inquiry into the death of Mr Donaldson.
Today 12:43 PM
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Today 12:28 PM
Images from outside Dublin High Court following verdict
BBC journalist thanks sources used in documentary
BBC journalist Jennifer O'Leary, who worked on the Spotlight programmed at the centre of the case, thanked the sources she relied upon for the broadcast.
'I said in the witness box that I had nothing to hide, only sources to protect and I want to thank them for trusting me,' she said.
'I also want to acknowledge and thank our witnesses in court – Trevor Ringland, Senator Michael McDowell and Ann Travers – who spoke so courageously. And there are thousands of Ann Travers across this island and in Britain - victims and survivors of the Troubles AND the years after the peace agreement who carry the burden of their grief and trauma with incredible courage.
"They are the people I'm thinking of – all of them. Thank you.'
Today 11:47 AM
'I've always been satisfied with my reputation': Gerry Adams reacts to case outcome
Gerry Adams was asked about what the outcome of the case means for his reputation.
He replied: 'I've always been satisfied with my reputation.
'Obviously, like yourself, we all have flaws in our character, but the jury made the decision and let's accept the outcome, and I think let's accept what the jury said.'
Today 11:34 AM
Adam Smyth, director of BBC Northern Ireland, expresses disappointment in the outcome
Speaking to media outside court, Mr Smyth said: 'We are disappointed by this verdict.
'We believe we supplied extensive evidence to the court of the careful editorial processes and journalistic diligence applied to this programme, and to the accompanying online article. Moreover, it was accepted by the court and conceded by Gerry Adams' legal team that the Spotlight broadcast and publication were of the highest public interest.
'We didn't want to come to court but it was important that we defend our journalism and we stand by that decision.
'Our past is difficult terrain for any jury and we thank them for their diligence and careful consideration of the issues in this case.
'The implications of their decision, though, are profound. As our legal team made clear, if the BBC's case cannot be won under existing Irish defamation law, it is hard to see how anyone's could, and they warned how today's decision would hinder freedom of expression.
'Of course, a case of this importance, duration and complexity involves significant expense. In common with other media organisations, the BBC has insurance and makes financial provision for ongoing and anticipated legal claims.'
He added they will take some time to consider the implications of the ruling.
Today 11:25 AM
Paul Tweed says Gerry Adams is 'very pleased with this resounding verdict'
Solicitor Paul Tweed said his client Gerry Adams is 'very pleased with this resounding verdict', adding the award of damages 'speaks for itself'.
'The jury, 12 people from different walks of life, having listened to extensive evidence during the course of the past four weeks, has come to the unequivocal conclusion that the subject allegation was highly defamatory,' he said outside court.
'It therefore follows that the BBC Spotlight team at the time should not have included it in their broadcast. 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.
'Furthermore, the fact that the false allegation has been left online for almost nine years has, in my opinion, done much to undermine the high standards of accuracy that is expected of the BBC.
'This case could and should have been resolved some considerable time ago.'
Today 11:24 AM
Gerry Adams said this case was 'about putting manners on the British Broadcasting Corporation'
Outside court, Gerry Adams, who spoke in both Irish and English, said this case was 'about putting manners on the British Broadcasting Corporation'.
Mr Adams told reporters: 'From my perspective, taking this case was was about putting manners on the British Broadcasting Corporation.
'I know many, many journalists. I like to think that I get on well with the most of them, and I wish you well, and I would uphold your right to do your job.
'But the British Broadcasting Corporation upholds the ethos of the British state in Ireland, and in my view it's out of sync in many, many fronts with the Good Friday Agreement.
'It hasn't caught on to where we are on this island as part of the process, the continuing process, of building peace and justice, and harmony, and, hopefully, in the time ahead, unity.'
Gerry Adams said there is an onus on everyone, including himself, to deal with these legacy issues.
He said: 'I'm very mindful of the Donaldson family in the course of this long trial, and indeed of the victims' families who have had to watch all of this.
'I want to say that the Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan should meet the family of Denis Donaldson as quickly as possible, and that there's an onus on both governments and everyone else, and I include myself in this, to try and deal with these legacy issues as best that we can.'
Today 11:15 AM
What was the jury's verdict?
A jury at the High Court in Dublin found in Gerry Adams favour on Friday, after determining that the programme had defamed the former Sinn Fein leader. It also found the BBC's actions were not in good faith and that it had not acted in a fair and reasonable way.
The jury determined that Mr Adams should be awarded 100,000 euros, which the jury heard falls on the medium scale for defamation.
The jury had been tasked with determining whether the words in the BBC spotlight programme and accompanying article, on which Mr Adams brought the complaint, mean that he sanctioned and approved the murder of Denis Donaldson.
Today 11:11 AM
What was the defamation case about?
In the BBC programme broadcast in September 2016, an anonymous source given the pseudonym Martin claimed the shooting was sanctioned by the political and military leadership of the IRA and that Gerry Adams gave 'the final say'.
Mr Adams said the allegation was a 'grievous smear' while the BBC has described the legal action as a 'cynical attempt to launder his reputation'.
The high-profile republican sought damages of at least 200,000 euro (£168,000) from the BBC.
However, the British public service broadcaster had argued it would be a 'cruel joke' to award the former Sinn Fein president any damages.