Latest news with #Adams
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Search for missing girl, 15, feared drowned in East River enters second day
A desperate search for a missing 15-year-old girl feared drowned in New York City's East River under the Roosevelt Island Bridge entered its second day Saturday. After a night of heavy rains, NYPD scuba divers were expected to go back into the waters between Queens and Roosevelt Island on Saturday and attempt to recover the girl's body, officials said. The girl was sitting on the rocks, wearing a bathing suit with a flower pattern on it, when she fell into the river, police said Saturday. The teen is believed to be from the Upper East Side, WABC Eyewitness News reported. The teen entered the East River at about 12:15 p.m. on Friday, cops said. When she didn't resurface, a friend she was with called 911. Responding officers found a bookbag near the water that they believe belongs to the teen, who has not been publicly identified. Cops have not recovered any bodies in the East River in the last 24 hours, a police spokesman said. The currents in the East River are quite strong, and may have been one of the causes why the Mexican Navy ship Cuauhtémoc crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge earlier this month. 'Our currents and tides are very strong,' Adams said when the Cuauhtémoc crashed. 'People don't realize that people fall in the river by the Statue of Liberty and find themselves in the Bronx somewhere.'
Extra.ie
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Extra.ie
Family of Denis Donaldson say Gerry Adams 'retraumatised' them with libel action
The family of murdered informant Denis Donaldson have called for a public inquiry into his death, as they accused Gerry Adams of 'retraumatising' them with his libel action against the BBC. The former Sinn Féin president yesterday said he has 'put manners' on the BBC, after winning €100,000 in damages over an allegation that he sanctioned the murder of the British spy. Mr Adams had sued the BBC in the High Court in Dublin, claiming it wrongly alleged that he had the 'final say' in the death of Sinn Féin official and informant Denis Donaldson. Gerry Adams. Pic: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Mr Donaldson was shot dead in Donegal in April 2006, four months after confessing that he had been an agent for the British security forces for 20 years. The murder remains unsolved. Mr Adams, who has been both a TD and an MP, said the 2016 Spotlight documentary, Spy In The IRA, had damaged his reputation as a peacemaker. He said the programme was a 'grievous smear' and a 'hatchet job' – and the jury agreed. Gerry Adams. Pic: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Following the verdict, Mr Donaldson's daughter Jane called for an urgent public inquiry into her father's violent death. Speaking on behalf of her immediate family, she said: 'By reducing events which damaged our lives to a debate about damage to his reputation, the plaintiff has trivialised our family tragedy. 'Daddy's murder and surrounding circumstances devastated our family. The plaintiff prioritised his own financial and reputational interests over any regard for retraumatising my family.' She continued: 'We are still no closer to the truth. No one spoke for my family in court. We supported neither side in this case.' Gerry Adams. Pic: Collins Courts She said her family had been 'stonewalled' in their pursuit of the truth, while 'limitless' legal resources and vast expense were invested in the High Court case. She noted that an inquest into Mr Donaldson's death had been postponed 27 times, and said the family had been refused a judgeled commission of investigation. She said the public interest could Plaintiff: only be Gerry served by Adams some form of public inquiry, with a crossborder dimension, 'empowered to investigate the whole truth about the conspiracy to expose and murder my daddy'. Adam Smyth, director of the BBC in the North, said the broadcast and online article '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,' he said after the verdict yesterday. Mr Smyth added that the implications of this case will be 'profound'. 'If the BBC's case cannot be won under existing Irish defamation law, it's hard to see how anyone's could,' he explained. The head of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Ireland, Séamus Dooley, said the case 'underlined' the need for reform of the defamation legislation. 'As an official representing BBC journalists I was disappointed at the comments made by Mr Adams regarding the organisation' he said, referring to his claim to have 'put manners' on the broadcaster. 'Spotlight has a proud history of investigative journalism and the outcome of this case does not take from that history.' He said the scale of damages gave rise to serious concern for media organisations. 'The NUJ has long sought reform of defamation law and Twitter,' he said. The BBC had argued that the documentary, and a follow-up online article, were fair and reasonable publications on a matter of public interest. Facing potential legal costs of over €1.5million for the four-week case, it said yesterday that the implications of the verdict for investigative journalism in the future 'will be profound'. Mr Adams's reputation was at the core of the case, with the BBC maintaining that the public believed him to have been a senior member of the IRA for many years. The broadcaster's barrister, Eoin McCullough, had said: 'If a person has the reputation of having been in the IRA or on the army council, or having presided over a campaign in which many people were killed, they should not be awarded damages on account of the allegation that the final order for one more murder lay with him.' However, the jury found that the words used in the documentary, and a follow-up online news article, were defamatory, and awarded €100,000 to restore Mr Adams's reputation. Speaking outside court, Mr Adams – who has said the money will be given to charity – told the waiting media that he had flaws in his character, but that he had 'always been satisfied with my reputation'. He continued: 'From my perspective, taking this case was about putting manners on the British Broadcasting Corporation. I know many, many journalists. I like to think that I get on well with most of them… '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.' Mr Adams said he was mindful that Mr Donaldson's family had to 'watch all of this'. He called on Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan to meet with the Donaldson family 'as quickly as possible'. Mr Adams's legal team had said the programme was reckless journalism, based on an unverified allegation from a single anonymous source. The BBC had countered that the claim was presented as an allegation and not a fact, and that it was corroborated by five other sources including the security services.
Sunday World
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Sunday World
BBC expected to appeal Gerry Adams defamation finding as legal bill set to hit €3m
The former Sinn Féin president was awarded €100,000 in damages over the contents of a BBC Spotlight programme and BBC website article which a jury found meant he had sanctioned and approved the murder of informer Denis Donaldson. Director of BBC Northern Ireland Adam Smyth, with producer Imelda Lynch (left) and journalist Jennifer O'Leary (right) outside the High Court in Dublin. Photo: PA Former Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams outside the High Court in Dublin after he was awarded €100,000 in damages against the BBC. Photo: PA The BBC is likely to appeal a jury finding that it defamed Gerry Adams as it faces a potential legal bill of €3m after losing the High Court action. The former Sinn Féin president was awarded €100,000 in damages over the contents of a BBC Spotlight programme and BBC website article which a jury found meant he had sanctioned and approved the murder of informer Denis Donaldson. Following the verdict, Mr Adams said he took the case to put 'manners' on the BBC, but he faced sharp criticism from the Donaldson family for bringing the action to trial. In a statement, it claimed Mr Adams had 'prioritised his own financial and reputational interests over any regard for retraumatising' the family. 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 The corporation has yet to make an official comment about a potential appeal, but an informed source told the Irish Independent it was actively assessing its options in respect of challenging the verdict. Director of BBC Northern Ireland, Adam Smyth, said the implications of the jury's decision were 'profound' and that the BBC's lawyers had warned it would hinder freedom of expression. '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,' he said. The trial judge, Mr Justice Alexander Owens, said he could not think of a reason why Mr Adams should not be awarded his costs against the BBC, but will hear submissions on the issue next Tuesday. Mr Justice Alexander Owens. Photo: PA Each side in the case, which ran for just over four weeks, is thought to have legal costs of around €1.5m. In relation to the cost of the case, Mr Smyth said: '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.' Appeal grounds are likely to include a ruling made by the judge which meant the BBC was unable to call witnesses to testify from their own specific knowledge of events that Mr Adams was a senior IRA leader. Mr Adams has always denied the claim. Instead the BBC was restricted to only calling evidence that Mr Adams' general reputation was that of an IRA leader. A further ground of appeal is likely to be that the jury was asked to consider whether the words complained of were published 'in good faith'. The jury found that they weren't. But the BBC contended the question should not have been put to the jury as it was not an issue pressed by Mr Adams' side in the trial. The quantum of damages, in circumstances where Mr Adams admitted his reputation was that of an IRA leader, is also viewed as a potential ground. Speaking outside the court, Mr Adams said he 'very happy' and that from his perspective, 'taking this case was about putting manners on the British Broadcasting Corporation'. Director of BBC Northern Ireland Adam Smyth, with producer Imelda Lynch (left) and journalist Jennifer O'Leary (right) outside the High Court in Dublin. Photo: PA Mr Adams claimed the BBC 'upholds the ethos of the British state in Ireland' and, in his view, was 'out of sync on many, many fronts with the Good Friday Agreement'. Mr Adams also said he was very mindful of the Donaldson family during the trial and called on Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan to meet with them. However, Mr Donaldson's daughter Jane hit out at Mr Adams. Her father, a former IRA man and Sinn Féin administrator in Stormont, was shot dead at a remote cottage in Glenties, Co Donegal in April 2006, four months after it was revealed he had been an informer for police and MI5 since the 1980s. No one has ever been brought to justice and Mr Adams has denied any knowledge or involvement in the murder. Jane Donaldson was called as a witness by the BBC but this was objected to by Mr Adams' lawyers and the judge ruled that the jury would not hear her evidence. She called for an urgent official inquiry into her father's murder. In a statement on behalf of the family, Ms Donaldson said: 'By reducing events which damaged our lives to a debate about damage to his reputation, the plaintiff has trivialised our family tragedy.' In the Spotlight programme, a former British agent within Sinn Féin and the IRA, known only as Martin, said he believed Mr Adams sanctioned the murder. The BBC did not argue this was true and said it was only presented as an allegation published 'in good faith'.
Calgary Herald
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Minus most starters, Ottawa Redblacks fall to Montreal Alouettes in CFL pre-season finale
For much of the Ottawa Redblacks' pre-season finale at TD Place, it looked like the highlight of the night would stand as the lightning storm — which included high winds and toonie-sized hail pellets — that delayed the start of the game by almost an hour. Article content Article content The excitement meter spiked a couple of times, but all in all, followers of the CFL in Ottawa have to be happy the regular season kicks off with the Redblacks' visit to Saskatchewan on Thursday for a game against the Roughriders. Article content Article content The Redblacks sat most starters to take a look at players on the bubble, and the results were predictable in a sloppy 24-16 loss to the Montreal Alouettes on Friday night. Article content Article content Former Redblacks quarterback Caleb Evans had an easy time moving the ball against his old team in one quarter's work, completing eight of 11 pass attempts for 111 yards, and running for a touchdown. Article content Montreal's 17-7 halftime lead included a scoreless second quarter. Article content Ottawa's most prolific offensive player was Tyrie Adams, who is trying to win a backup job behind starting quarterback Dru Brown. Article content Adams scored on a nine-yard run with just under nine minutes left in the fourth quarter to pull the Redblacks within eight points. Article content Adams orchestrated a last-minute drive that stalled on the Montreal 45. Article content The Redblacks created some excitement in the third quarter when Dustin Crum directed a drive that included a 38-yard pass to running back Elijah Collins, who also distinguished himself on the night. Article content Article content But the Redblacks drew the ire of the fans when, on a third and goal from the three, they elected to settle for a 10-yard field goal that pulled Ottawa to within one score. Article content With Brown not dressed, Matt Shiltz started the game and played one quarter, completing two of two passes for 32 yards — including a 31-yarder to Andre Miller. Article content Crum completed eight of 13 pass attempts for 96 yards. Article content Former Toronto Argonaut Daniel Adeboboye was effective as the starting running back, carrying the ball four times for 24 yards. Article content Returning American linebacker Frankie Griffin was a demon on Redblacks' special teams with three first-half tackles. Article content American receiver Ayir Asante didn't do his chances of making the team any favours when he fumbled the Alouettes' first punt of the game, giving the visitors the ball on the Ottawa 34-yard line. Article content Ending the touchdown drive with a key pass knockdown was defensive lineman Daniel Okpoko, a Redblacks second-round pick year, but Montreal did manage a 24-yard field goal from Joshua Hutley off the Asante gaffe.
Ottawa Citizen
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Minus most starters, Ottawa Redblacks fall to Montreal Alouettes in CFL pre-season finale
For much of the Ottawa Redblacks' pre-season finale at TD Place, it looked like the highlight of the night would stand as the lightning storm — which included high winds and toonie-sized hail pellets — that delayed the start of the game by almost an hour. Article content Article content The excitement meter spiked a couple of times, but all in all, followers of the CFL in Ottawa have to be happy the regular season kicks off with the Redblacks' visit to Saskatchewan on Thursday for a game against the Roughriders. Article content Article content The Redblacks sat most starters to take a look at players on the bubble, and the results were predictable in a sloppy 24-16 loss to the Montreal Alouettes on Friday night. Article content Article content Former Redblacks quarterback Caleb Evans had an easy time moving the ball against his old team in one quarter's work, completing eight of 11 pass attempts for 111 yards, and running for a touchdown. Ottawa's most prolific offensive player was Tyrie Adams, who is trying to win a backup job behind starting quarterback Dru Brown. Article content Adams scored on a nine-yard run with just under nine minutes left in the fourth quarter to pull the Redblacks within eight points. Article content Adams orchestrated a last-minute drive that stalled on the Montreal 45. Article content The Redblacks created some excitement in the third quarter when Dustin Crum directed a drive that included a 38-yard pass to running back Elijah Collins, who also distinguished himself on the night. Article content Article content But the Redblacks drew the ire of the fans when, on a third and goal from the three, they elected to settle for a 10-yard field goal that pulled Ottawa to within one score. Article content With Brown not dressed, Matt Shiltz started the game and played one quarter, completing two of two passes for 32 yards — including a 31-yarder to Andre Miller. Article content Crum completed eight of 13 pass attempts for 96 yards. Article content Former Toronto Argonaut Daniel Adeboboye was effective as the starting running back, carrying the ball four times for 24 yards. Article content Returning American linebacker Frankie Griffin was a demon on Redblacks' special teams with three first-half tackles. Article content American receiver Ayir Asante didn't do his chances of making the team any favours when he fumbled the Alouettes' first punt of the game, giving the visitors the ball on the Ottawa 34-yard line.
