Gerry Adams awarded €100,000 in damages after winning defamation case against BBC
The BBC defamed Gerry Adams by publishing a claim that he sanctioned the murder of a British agent, a High Court jury has found, awarding the former Sinn Féin leader €100,000.
Mr Adams had claimed that the 2016 Spotlight programme and related article defamed him by falsely accusing him of giving 'the final say' in the Provisional IRA's murder of MI5 informant Denis Donaldson at a cottage in Glenties, Co Donegal in 2006.
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Mr Adams described the allegation during the trial as a 'grievous smear'.
The BBC had denied defaming Mr Adams.
The jury agreed, as Mr Adams pleaded, that words published in the programme and article were understood to mean he sanctioned and approved the murder. The broadcaster argued the claim against Mr Adams was couched as an allegation.
The jury rejected the BBC's defence in the case – the broadcaster had argued the publication of the allegation was fair and reasonable, and in the public interest.
The jury decided Mr Adams should be awarded €100,000 to vindicate and restore his reputation following the defamation.
The verdict came on Friday, the 21st day of the case, which opened on April 29th. They spent about seven hours deliberating.
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