Gerry Adams vs the BBC: ‘I am here to defend the journalism,' reporter tells ‘smear' trial
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Costs rise to €1m in case brought by ex-Sinn Féin leader over allegations about murder of party official
As Declan Doyle, one of Gerry Adams's senior counsel, cross-examined the editor of BBC's Spotlight programme last week, he asked her about directions she had given the actor who voiced 'Martin', the pseudonym for an ex-IRA/Sinn Féin man turned British spy.
It was 'Martin', wearing a baseball cap and with his appearance obscured by a piece of glass, who alleged in a 2016 Spotlight documentary that Gerry Adams had authorised the 2006 killing of Denis Donaldson, a Sinn Féin official, months after he confessed to being a British spy.
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Daily Mail
10 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Donald Trump criticises the BBC for Gaza aid misreporting as the White House accuses the broadcaster of interpreting the word of Hamas as 'the total truth'
The Trump administration has hit out at the BBC, accusing the corporation of interpreting the word of ' Hamas as the total truth'. Yesterday, 21 Palestinians were killed by IDF troops as they tried to collect aid near a distribution site in Rafah, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Previously, the Hamas-run health ministry said at least 31 people had been killed while waiting for food, laying blame on ' Israeli gunfire'. When asked about these reports, Karoline Leavitt, the US President's secretary, said the Oval Office was attempting to confirm what had transpired before speaking publicly. But in a bizarre turn of events, she basted the BBC for its coverage on the matter, accusing them of taking 'the word of Hamas with total truth.' Waving a printout of stories on the BBC website, she described how headlines had changed from accusations an Israeli tank had killed 26 people, to 21, and then again to 31 fatalities. 'Unfortunately, unlike some in the media, we don't take the word of Hamas with total truth,' she said in a press conference: 'We like to look into it when they speak… unlike the BBC …' 'And then, oh, wait, they had to correct and take down their entire story, saying we reviewed the footage and couldn't find any evidence of anything,' she said. 'So we're going to look into reports before we confirm them from this podium or before we take action. Taking another swipe at the broadcaster, she added: 'And I suggest that journalists who actually care about truth do the same to reduce the amount of misinformation that's going around the globe.' A BBC spokesperson said: 'The claim the BBC took down a story after reviewing footage is completely wrong. We did not remove any story and we stand by our journalism. 'Our news stories and headlines about Sunday's aid distribution centre incident were updated throughout the day with the latest fatality figures as they came in from various sources. 'These were always clearly attributed, from the first figure of 15 from medics, through the 31 killed from the Hamas-run health ministry to the final Red Cross statement of 'at least 21' at their field hospital. 'This is totally normal practice on any fast-moving news story.' Completely separately, a BBC Verify online report on Monday reported a viral video posted on social media was not linked to the aid distribution centre it claimed to show. This video did not run on BBC news channels and had not informed our reporting. Conflating these two stories is simply misleading. It is vital to bring people the truth about what is happening in Gaza. International journalists are not currently allowed into Gaza and we would welcome the support of the White House in our call for immediate access. Last week, thousands of Palestinians overran an aid distribution site in Gaza, established by a US and Israeli-backed group. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) said they had to retreat due to the insurmontable numbers of people seeking aid Earlier today, 27 were killed and several were injured by IDF troops near a food site in Gaza, according to local officials. The Israeli military said its forces had opened fire on a group of people they viewed as a threat after they left a designated access route near the distribution centre in Rafah and approached their positions. It added it was still investigating what had happened. The deaths came hours after Israel said three of its soldiers had been killed in fighting in northern Gaza, as its forces pushed ahead with a months-long offensive against Hamas militants that has laid much of the enclave to waste. The reports in northern and southern Gaza could not be independently verified. An International Committee of the Red Cross spokesperson said its field hospital in Rafah had received 184 casualties, adding that 19 of those were dead upon arrival, and eight died of their wounds shortly after. Video showed injured people, including at least one woman, being rushed to a medical centre on carts drawn by donkeys. Health officials said at least 18 more Palestinians were killed in other military strikes in the territory on Tuesday. The United Nations human rights office in Geneva said on Tuesday the impediment of access to food relief for civilians in Gaza might constitute a war crime and described attacks on people trying to access food aid as 'unconscionable'. The head of the U.N. agency, Volker Turk, urged a prompt and impartial investigation into the killings. Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer denied that civilians had been targeted. 'The IDF is doing everything in its power to allow Gazans to get to the humanitarian aid. The IDF is not preventing the arrival of Gazans at humanitarian aid sites. Indeed, we are encouraging it,' Mencer said.
Leader Live
18 minutes ago
- Leader Live
UK appears to have been spared immediate hit of Trump's 50% steel tariffs
The US President has decided to 'provide different treatment' to the UK after a deal that was struck between Washington and London last month. Levies will remain at 25% for imports from the UK, however Britain could still be subject to the higher 50% rate from July, according to a version of the order confirming the tariff increase posted by a White House X account on Tuesday. According to the text of the order, Mr Trump has 'further determined that it is necessary and appropriate to allow for the implementation of the U.S.-UK Economic Prosperity Deal of May 8, 2025 (EPD), and to accordingly provide different treatment, as described below, for imports of steel and aluminum articles, and their derivatives, from the United Kingdom'. 🚨 @POTUS just signed the order raising tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to 50%. Here is the text of the order: 1. On January 11, 2018, the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) transmitted to me a report on the Secretary's investigation into the effect of imports of steel… — Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 3, 2025 The order later says that rates will for now stay at 25% and adds: 'On or after July 9, 2025, the Secretary may adjust the applicable rates of duty and construct import quotas for steel and aluminum consistent with the terms of the EPD, or he may increase the applicable rates of duty to 50 percent if he determines that the United Kingdom has not complied with relevant aspects of the EPD'. The 50% tariff rate more widely is due to come into force from 12.01am Washington DC time on Wednesday, which is shortly after 5am in the UK. A Government spokesperson said: 'The UK was the first country to secure a trade deal with the US earlier this month and we remain committed to protecting British business and jobs across key sectors, including steel as part of our plan for change. 'We're pleased that as a result of our agreement with the US, UK steel will not be subject to these additional tariffs. 'We will continue to work with the US to implement our agreement, which will see the 25% US tariffs on steel removed.' Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's trade deal with the US, struck last month, included relief on the steel and aluminium tariffs, but the implementation has not yet been finalised. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds met White House trade representative Jamieson Greer in Paris on Tuesday. According to the Department for Business and Trade, Mr Reynolds and Mr Greer discussed a desire to implement the deal struck between London and Washington as soon as possible, and committed to working closely to make it happen. The general terms for the agreement between the UK and US were published in May when the deal was announced, and outline the intended plans. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked if there was a text of the full deal ready to be released, and told reporters on Tuesday: 'There 's most definitely text with this deal, there is language that this side has seen. 'You'll have to ask the UK Parliament why they haven't seen it from their own Government, I obviously can't answer that question.'
Daily Mirror
22 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Ex-England cricketer's daughter 'dismissed multiple times' by NHS before death
An inquest has heard how Bethan Amy James, the daughter of former England cricketer Steve James, was 'dismissed' by doctors before she died just 48 hours after being taken to hospital. The 21-year-old daughter of a former cricket star tragically died after being "dismissed" by doctors multiple times, an inquest has heard. Bethan Amy James, daughter of ex- England cricketer Steve James, passed away in hospital on February 9, 2020 after being admitted the previous day. Bethan's father, now a well-respected sports journalist, was covering Wales' Six Nations match in Ireland when she became seriously ill. Because of severe weather, he was unable to return home in time to see her before she died. The inquest into Ms James' untimely death began today at Pontypridd coroner's court, where it was revealed that Bethan had sought medical help several times before she went into hospital for the last time. Her mum, Jane James, told the inquest that she believed 'her life could have been saved', reports Wales Online. Speaking in person at the inquest, she described Bethan as a 'caring' and 'beautiful' person who always put others before herself. She explained that Bethan had suffered with gastrointestinal issues throughout most of her life, before she was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 2019 at the age of 20. Mrs James said her daughter took her diagnosis with 'great maturity'. Prior to her death Mrs James said Bethan had been studying journalism at the University of South Wales and dreamed of being a voice for those with Crohn's and related illnesses. It was heard how Bethan had started a vlog account where she documented her experience of the condition, before she became involved in a BBC documentary with Amy Dowden, who is also diagnosed with the condition. The documentary aired after Bethan's death, and the programme was dedicated to her memory. Paying tribute to her daughter Mrs James said: 'As a person she never moaned, she never made a fuss. She was very caring. She was just beautiful. 'She put people before herself. She was more interested in other people and their stories and I think that's why she would have made a brilliant journalist.' Describing the events leading up to her death, Mrs James said Bethan had first visited her GP on January 27, 2020 with fatigue and shortness of breath. Dr Jonathan Carnell gave her an urgent referral to NHS Wales' Llandough Hospital, where she was diagnosed with possible "community acquired pneumonia" - but Mrs James said this was not verbally communicated to her or her daughter by the hospital staff. Despite her illness, Bethan attended university to deliver a presentation the next day but returned "absolutely knackered", and later reported numbness in her right arm and severe nausea, the inquest heard. Over the following days, Bethan's symptoms worsened, including involuntary movements in her right arm and difficulties using her right hand. On February 2, she was taken to A&E at Cardiff's University Hospital of Wales, where a doctor dismissed her symptoms as a "hemiplegic migraine." Mrs James told the inquest: "I don't feel on the 2nd that they fully assessed her." Mrs James became emotional as she recounted how her daughter collapsed on Monday, February 3, due to being "so exhausted" from the hospital visits. After this incident, Mrs James stated an ambulance was called but despite the paramedics' arrival, her daughter refused to go to the hospital, feeling dismissed by various doctors and worn out from the long hours of waiting she had already experienced. Paramedics noted that Bethan's heart rate was high, but they couldn't force her to go to the hospital, it was heard. Two days later, on Wednesday, February 5, Bethan's symptoms continued in her right arm, and she also started experiencing numbness and problems with her right leg. "Myself and my husband knew we needed to do something to try and find out what was going on," Mrs James told the inquest. She said they took her back to A&E at the University Hospital of Wales. During this visit, Mrs James said they met Dr Ngua for the second time. She described him as "very, very dismissive" of her daughter and said that he said words to the effect of: "You again! You were here on Sunday." Speaking during the inquest, Dr Ngua said he "did not mean to be dismissive" when he made that comment. He said on reflection Bethan's high heart rate could have been investigated further. Mrs James said while in the hospital waiting area a medic came and did an observation of her daughter. During this, she explained how her heart rate appeared unusually high, though this was initially dismissed by hospital staff as a fault with the machine, she said. Mrs James said a neurology referral was only arranged for the next day after she threatened to escalate the matter to the board seniors, and they went home. However, upon their arrival she said there was 'no record' of the referral appointment and that medics had 'no idea' why they were there. She described this as 'appalling'. By February 8, Bethan was more unwell at home, she said, and 'looked dreadful' with bags under her eyes, and nails so pale she thought she was wearing white nail polish. After Mrs James rang 999, the first person to arrive was a rapid response paramedic named Paul Humphries. Mrs James said Mr Humphries could not record Bethan's blood pressure properly. In hindsight Mrs James said she now knows this is a sign of sepsis. She said the 'signs' of sepsis were 'right in front' of Mr Humphries. The inquest heard how initially Mr Humphries called for a P3 ambulance response, which refers to a low priority. He later escalated this to a P2. Speaking during the inquest, Mr Humphries said he believes he dealt with Bethan appropriately, adding: 'I didn't come away from that incident thinking I did a bad job.' When an ambulance turned upm Mrs James said she didn't sense any 'rush' to get her daughter to hospital. She finally arrived at 7.45pm following a 12 minute journey, it was heard. Mrs James described that on arrival at the NHS University Hospital of Wales they had to wait in the ambulance outside the hospital for a considerable amount of She said the family 'now know' there was a bed available, claiming her daughter wasn't 'deemed unwell enough' to have it. At 8.10pm Ms James was triaged before she went down to the resus deparment at 9.15pm. Mrs James said it occurred to her that her daughter was only at this point going down to where she needed to be to receive help, some three hours after the ambulance had been called. She described there being 'chaos' at the hospital as medics struggled to administer a line into Bethan, and with nobody clearly in charge of her care. Mrs James said she believes it should have been administered in her daughter's neck instead for easier access, or that she should have been taken down to intensive care. While this was ongoing Mrs James said her daughter was awake, could 'hardly breathe' and was 'so scared'. After a wait, Mrs James said an anaesthetist came down and Bethan was put to sleep. Mrs James said she felt that from this point onwards, her daughter's body lost its ability to fight. She said she was asked to leave the room at around 9.25pm before she was told that her daughter had a cardiac arrest a short time later. Mrs James recalled being told that medics were treating her daughter and asked if she wanted to be with Bethan as she passed away. 'As soon as I walked in, I knew she was dead,' Mrs James said. She said she felt that a sepsis protocol should have been put in place early on and that her daughter 'should have had the right care straight away'. She added: 'It's heartbreaking as a mum to know that her life could have been saved. They didn't know what they were doing.' The inquest continues.
