Gerry Adams criticised for ‘chilling' comments after libel win against BBC
Gerry Adams has been criticised for 'chilling' comments made following his legal victory against the BBC.
The corporation was ordered to pay the former Sinn Fein leader €100,000 (£84,000) by the High Court in Dublin after a jury ruled that it had libelled him.
A 2016 episode of the BBC's Spotlight programme, and an accompanying online story, alleged that Adams sanctioned the killing of Denis Donaldson, a Sinn Fein official who was unmasked as a British spy.
The jury also found the BBC's actions were not in good faith and it had not acted in a fair and reasonable way.
Adams's legal team said the verdict was 'full vindication' for their client, while the BBC warned that the implications were 'profound'.
Seamus Dooley, the Irish secretary of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), said it would make journalists 'pause for reflection'.
He told RTE's This Week programme: 'The first thing we should say is Gerry Adams was entitled to take his case.
'But it does have profound implications for the practice of journalism and I think it has implications both in terms of defamation law but also for me in terms of journalism in Northern Ireland and the relationship between Sinn Fein and journalists in Northern Ireland.'
'Unfair and unreasonable' remarks
Speaking outside court on Friday, Adams said the case was 'about putting manners on the British Broadcasting Corporation'.
He added that the BBC '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.'
Mr Dooley said: 'I found that a chilling comment actually. He referred to putting manners on the BBC, to me that means putting them back in their box.
'The reality is that Spotlight has, for over 40 years, done some of the most amazing investigative journalism.
'Margaret Thatcher tried to ban Spotlight because of their coverage of [the] Gibraltar Three, they exposed Kincora at the heart of the British establishment, recently they did work on ' Stakeknife ', and in fact the Sinn Fein mayor of Derry led the campaign to save BBC Radio Foyle news service.
'I found the attitude quite chilling but also unfair and unreasonable in the circumstances.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
28 minutes ago
- The Guardian
TV tonight: Paris Lees' captivating millennial coming-of-age drama
9pm, BBC Three Millennials, prepare for a nostalgia rush as this rollicking adaptation of Paris Lees' memoir takes us back to the time of Nokias, Zombie Nation and total hedonism. Life is 'one big fucking party' for everyone except Byron (a brilliant breakthrough for Ellis Howard), a working-class teenager desperate to escape constant homophobia and hopelessness. Sex work leads Byron to Nottingham's underground scene and a fun-loving group called the Fallen Divas. But the party can't last for ever … It's a bold and captivating opening episode that doesn't flinch from exploring the big issues (Byron is only 15 when being paid for sex) and tells the story with authenticity and humour. Hollie Richardson 10pm, BBC Four'I killed at least 83 people myself; under my orders there were between 1,500 and 2,000 people killed. I was the most wanted man in the world.' That's Ilich Ramírez Sánchez – AKA Carlos the Jackal – speaking from prison in Paris, where he is serving three life sentences for his involvement in terror attacks. He narrates this film about his life, from growing up in Venezuela to his relationships with Gaddafi and Bin Laden. HR 7pm, BBC TwoRecent cyber-attacks on M&S, the Co-op and Harrods have exposed critical flaws in digital defences, causing empty shelves, halted deliveries and furious customers. The hackers? Organised, anonymous and ruthlessly efficient – but often simply disaffected youngsters showing off their skills, as one ex-hacker here admits. Ali Catterall 9pm, BBC One This certainly isn't one of those episodes where the researchers had to scrabble around for a half-decent story. Straight away, singer Will Young provides a moving tale of overlooked second world war heroism thanks to the exploits of his grandfather, Digby. Then there is some spicy villainy further up the family tree. Young receives both happy and sad news. Jack Seale 9pm, BBC TwoThere have been two dramatisations of the Lockerbie terror attack this year. Neither really felt as if they did justice to the tale, so now it's time to hear the families of six victims tell their own stories in this documentary. These victims include 25-year-old Olive Gordon and 24-year-old Tim Burman. HR 9pm, Sky ArtsFor her next trip in this lovely series, art expert Kate Bryan is in Preston at the home of the first Black woman to win the Turner prize, and 'ultimate disruptor', Lubaina Himid. They have intimate chats about Himid's work on race, identity and what it means to be Black in the UK today. HR Blue Road: The Edna O'Brien Story (Sinéad O'Shea, 2024), 10pm, Sky ArtsA woman who lived her life battling the repression that is an enduring theme in her novels, the Irish author Edna O'Brien is a terrific subject for a documentary. O'Shea does her proud here and is blessed with access to the then 93-year-old – who is as sharp as ever when talking through her experiences. But O'Brien is also tinged with melancholy – a result of a traumatic childhood, an oppressive marriage and the misogynist resentment she faced – not least back in Ireland – due to her frank opinions. Simon Wardell In the Loop (Armando Iannucci, 2009), 11.45pm, BBC Two Iannucci's comedy bridges the gap between The Thick of It and Veep by throwing together governmental fools and chancers from the UK and US. It also ups the ante by making the result of the bungling of its apparatchiks, spin merchants and elected officials an actual war. Most of the Thick of It cast return, though confusingly as different characters. Luckily, Peter Capaldi's vituperative director of comms Malcolm Tucker is present and incorrect, bullying the out-of-his-depth minister for international development Simon Foster (Tom Hollander) on an ill-fated visit to Washington DC. SW
BBC News
30 minutes ago
- BBC News
Report highlights more than 70 threats or attacks on journalists
There have been 71 attacks or threats on journalists in Northern Ireland since 2019, a report by Amnesty International has found. The report features 26 interviews, including 22 with journalists in which they recounted their experiences of being told they will be shot or stabbed, and threatened with bombs under their also said that many journalists no longer report threats due to "time consuming processes and lack of action or positive outcome".Patrick Corrigan, the human rights organisation's Northern Ireland director, said Northern Ireland is the most dangerous place in the UK for journalists. The report is dedicated to Martin O'Hagan and Lyra McKee, two journalists who were killed in 2001 and 2019 O'Hagan, who was a journalist for the Sunday World newspaper, was shot dead by the Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF) in Lurgan, County Armagh, in McKee died after being struck by a bullet while observing rioting in Creggan in Londonderry in 2019. Lack of prosecutions The report said petrol bombs had been thrown at journalists' cars, and pipe bombs left close to their homes. It added that "several journalists report that they are receiving more threats in recent years than ever before".These threats were said to be primarily from armed paramilitaries, as well as organised crime journalists told the organisation they had "lost count" of the threats they have report said since June 2022, only two people have been successfully prosecuted for threats against journalists, none of which were made by paramilitary groups. It also reported that one media company has spent tens of thousands of pounds on ensuring journalists' homes are protected. Mr Corrigan said threats created "a climate of fear that many assumed was consigned to history"."When journalists are under attack, press freedom is under attack," he added. National Union of Journalists (NUJ) assistant general secretary Seamus Dooley said that in "what is supposed to be normalised society, post the peace process, journalists are living in fear and behind high-security measures."That really is not the sign of a normal functioning democracy."Among the journalists interviewed, was Belfast Telegraph crime correspondent Allison Morris, who police visited on nine occasions between December 2023 and October 2024 to deliver threats from paramilitary or criminal Morris told the report: "I'm convinced someone's going to kill me at some point. "Most of the time, I pretend that the threats don't annoy me, but clearly, they do. Sunday World Northern Editor Richard Sullivan said threats included being "given 48 hours to get out of the country or I'd be shot".Photographer Kevin Scott, from the Belfast Telegraph, said he has three cars and alternates his use of them for safety Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) have been asked for a response to the report. Report recommendations The report makes a number of recommendations including:asking the justice minister to establish and chair a new Media Safety Group, with representatives from the PSNI, Public Prosecution Service, media organisations and the NUJ, to deliver a new journalist safety strategysaying the PSNI must review its procedural response to threats and attacks against journalists and conduct investigations capable of leading to successful prosecutionscalling on the PSNI to produce new guidance and training for officers on the protection of journalists during public disordersaying the Northern Ireland Office and Department of Justice should ensure at-risk journalists can access the Home Protection Schemecalling on the UK government to establish an independent public inquiry into the murder of Martin O'Hagan "if the expected Police Ombudsman's investigation finds serious failings or wrongdoing by the police"
BBC News
30 minutes ago
- BBC News
Belfast City Council warns of legal action over 'asbestos' at bonfire site
Belfast City Council is considering legal action against the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) over concerns about suspected asbestos at a bonfire follows complaints over materials on derelict land beside Meridi Street near the Westlink road in the south of the NIEA said it was informed of "potentially hazardous waste" and enquiries were council said it "continues to engage" with NIEA and the landowner to ensure the materials are removed "as soon as possible". It said councillors agreed "this may include pursuing legal action against the NIEA and/or the landowner, if the necessary steps are not taken".An "abatement notice" has also been served requiring the landowner to secure and contain the materials, the council are lit annually in unionist communities across Northern Ireland to usher in the Twelfth of July, the main date in the region's parading discussed the Meridi Street site behind closed doors at a committee meeting on committee agreed to "delegate authority to officers to undertake legal action and the necessary steps to secure the site", according to the believe the cost of removing the material could be a six-figure sum, sources have told BBC News is believed legal action could involve seeking a court injunction. Previous action over asbestos In a statement, the council said it previously took enforcement action and secured the site due to asbestos in 2011."When this work was completed, officers were satisfied that the site did not pose any risk to people living or working in the area, but were clear that we could not state there was no contamination left at the site," it said."Council became aware of a further issue at this site last month and has been engaging with the landowner to ensure that suspected asbestos containing materials were adequately secured."The current landowner has put temporary measures in place to fence off the materials." 'Deeply worrying' Alliance Party assembly member Paula Bradshaw described the "asbestos pile" as "deeply worrying".Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback programme last month, she expressed concern at the "potential" of young people using the material on the Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) councillor Séamas de Faoite said there was "a real health risk"."No matter what your political perspective, this should cause concern," he Unionist Party (DUP) councillor Tracy Kelly also expressed concern but warned against "scaremongering"."It's a very, very big bonfire site and the bonfire is not where this asbestos is. It's on another part of the site," she said. Kelly, who recently became Belfast's new lord mayor, said she understood the material was from an old factory if the bonfire construction should be paused to remove the material, she said: "Of course if it's going to be removed then obviously the safety precautions need to be put in place."In a statement, a spokeswoman for Stormont's Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) said the NIEA's "enquiries are ongoing"."The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) received a complaint concerning potentially hazardous waste at a site in the vicinity of Meridi Street, Belfast on the afternoon of Friday 16 May," she said."Staff from the Environmental Crime Unit within NIEA were in contact with Belfast City Council about the matter on Monday 19 May and enquiries are ongoing."
