Journalist says source who claimed to BBC that Gerry Adams sanctioned MI5 murder ‘likely…will be killed' if identified
A SOURCE who claimed to a BBC Spotlight programme that Gerry Adams sanctioned the Provisional IRA's murder of a British agent would likely be killed if he was identified, the journalist behind the documentary has said.
Jennifer O'Leary also told the High Court today that at least an additional two sources disclosed to her that the Provisional IRA were behind the murder of MI5 agent Denis Donaldson, and not dissident republicans.
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She is currently giving evidence in the third week of a civil trial hearing into the former
The
Explaining the genesis of the Spotlight programme to BBC counsel Eoin McCullough, Ms O'Leary said she met a 'well placed' republican source in late 2015 who said the Provisional IRA were responsible for the murder of Mr Donaldson, and not dissident republicans.
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She said the source said the IRA had let dissidents claim Mr Donaldson's death.
She said that a security source she subsequently met repeated the claim that the IRA was behind Mr Donaldson's death.
Ms O'Leary said she first met 'Martin', the anonymous source who claimed Mr Adams sanctioned the murder of Mr Donaldon in the BBC programme, in February 2016.
On a number of occasions, Ms O'Leary said she was constrained in the details she could share about 'Martin'.
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She said: 'It is rare to have a source where if his identity is revealed, it is likely he will be killed."
Ms O'Leary denied suggestions that she had 'animus' towards Mr Adams.
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She said: 'I didn't have an agenda against Gerry Adams."
Earlier, John Kerr BL, for Mr Adams, told that the Spotlight programme was viewed by an average of 15,800 people in the State.
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The jury also viewed a montage of clips taken from news reports and television programme, compiled by Mr Adams' lawyer.
The montage included segments from RTÉ's Reeling In The Years, a BBC archive clip of Mr Adams' 1995 meeting with Nelson Mandela, an ITN clip of Mr Adams' meeting Bill Clinton on the Falls Road in 1995, and Sky News clip showing Mr Adams' shaking hands with the then-Prince Charles in Galway in 2015.
Prior to showing the segment, Mr Justice Owens said they were entitled to consider the montage because it comprises material in the public domain.
He said Mr Adams' reputation may be like the 'curate's egg' – 'good in parts, bad in parts' – and that the material was an example of 'good publicity' for Mr Adams.
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Former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams arrives at the High Court in Dublin
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