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North Wales Chronicle
4 days ago
- Politics
- North Wales Chronicle
What Gerry Adams said during seven days of evidence in BBC defamation trial
The jury at Dublin High Court heard hours of evidence from the former Sinn Fein leader. His testimony was wide-ranging, including a lengthy account of his early years and political awakenings. At times he became emotional as he recalled past events. Mr Adams' arrival at the Four Courts caused a stir each morning. The posse of media cameras was always there to meet him and he was greeted by the occasional well-wisher at the gates of the court. However, inside there were fewer pleasantries as the 67-year-old faced days of tense questioning by a barrister for the BBC, probing the senior republican's recollection around a series of IRA atrocities. The marathon evidence session began on the afternoon of the first day of the defamation case as the former MP and TD was invited by his own barrister, Declan Doyle SC, to tell the jury about his upbringing during a time of turmoil on the streets of Belfast. Trial judge Mr Justice Alexander Owens indulged the reminiscences to an extent before gently urging Mr Doyle to quicken his pace of questioning. Describing political and civil developments in the 1970s and 1980s, Mr Adams said: 'I do think the IRA was a legitimate response to what was happening at the time.' Soon attention turned to the Spotlight programme that led Mr Adams to sue the BBC over allegation that he sanctioned the 2006 murder of Denis Donaldson, a Sinn Fein official who had been exposed as a spy. Mr Adams told the court he remembered watching the programme and being 'astonished' at what he called 'an attempted hatchet job' and 'bad, poor journalism'. He described the BBC response when he attempted to raise a complaint as arrogant and insulting. He said: 'This is a public broadcaster. The public pay for all of this. 'They just dismissed it (the complaint), it was offensive, it was insulting and it is what has all of us here today.' The tone of questioning changed dramatically at the end of the first week of the trial when Paul Gallagher SC, acting for the BBC, began his cross-examination of the former Sinn Fein president. The courtroom was packed as Ireland's former attorney general rose to commence the questioning. His direction became clear at once when Mr Gallagher asked Mr Adams how many people had been killed in the Troubles and how many were victims of the IRA. 'A lot – what has this got to do with the Spotlight programme?' Mr Adams responded. The barrister listed some of the most infamous episodes of Northern Ireland's past – Bloody Friday, the Claudy bombings, La Mon – and asked Mr Adams how many victims were killed in each. Mr Adams responded that it was not fair to ask him to remember every death that occurred, adding: 'You're trivialising those deaths, if you don't mind me saying so.' As the line of questioning continued into the second week of the trial, Mr Adams complained that an attempt was being made to 'smother' the jury in history. He repeatedly said he would not speculate when asked about members, structures or rules of the IRA. 'What on earth has this got to do with Denis Donaldson?' Mr Adams asked on several occasions as the cross-examination went on. Under questioning, the former Sinn Fein leader said: 'I have never resiled from my view that the IRA's campaign, whatever about elements of it, was a legitimate response to military occupation.' He told the jury that IRA membership 'wasn't a path that I took', saying he instead joined Sinn Fein, adding that the republican party 'was not the political wing of any organisation'. He conceded that claims about about him being a member of the Army Council of the IRA had been raised multiple times in public. He said he had repeatedly received legal advice that he would 'not get any sort of a fair hearing' to challenge various claims made about him in the press. At one point Mr Adams turned the questioning on Mr Gallagher: 'Why are you trying to persuade the jury I have no reputation whatsoever?' Mr Adams said the Spotlight programme suggested his work to end violence in Northern Ireland 'was a scam' and he considered this to be a 'lie' and 'grievous smear'. On his final day of questioning, it was put to Mr Adams that he had carried the coffins of prominent IRA members during their funerals. He replied: 'You're trying to persuade this jury I had no reputation whatsoever because I attended funerals? 'And therefore Spotlight could say whatever they want about me and I would have no redress?' Asked by the judge for his reflections on the IRA's campaign of violence, Mr Adams added: 'My big regret is that so many people were killed and particularly civilians. 'My abiding regret is that it took so long to get a peace process together.' The questioning concluded. The jury had heard Mr Adams' legal team describe his reputation as that of a peacemaker. The BBC barristers argued that it was 'universally held' that he had a reputation of being in the IRA and on its Army Council. The former Sinn Fein president's barrister Tom Hogan SC summed up the paradox when he said: 'To some he is a hero, to some he is not.'
Leader Live
4 days ago
- Politics
- Leader Live
What Gerry Adams said during seven days of evidence in BBC defamation trial
The jury at Dublin High Court heard hours of evidence from the former Sinn Fein leader. His testimony was wide-ranging, including a lengthy account of his early years and political awakenings. At times he became emotional as he recalled past events. Mr Adams' arrival at the Four Courts caused a stir each morning. The posse of media cameras was always there to meet him and he was greeted by the occasional well-wisher at the gates of the court. However, inside there were fewer pleasantries as the 67-year-old faced days of tense questioning by a barrister for the BBC, probing the senior republican's recollection around a series of IRA atrocities. The marathon evidence session began on the afternoon of the first day of the defamation case as the former MP and TD was invited by his own barrister, Declan Doyle SC, to tell the jury about his upbringing during a time of turmoil on the streets of Belfast. Trial judge Mr Justice Alexander Owens indulged the reminiscences to an extent before gently urging Mr Doyle to quicken his pace of questioning. Describing political and civil developments in the 1970s and 1980s, Mr Adams said: 'I do think the IRA was a legitimate response to what was happening at the time.' Soon attention turned to the Spotlight programme that led Mr Adams to sue the BBC over allegation that he sanctioned the 2006 murder of Denis Donaldson, a Sinn Fein official who had been exposed as a spy. Mr Adams told the court he remembered watching the programme and being 'astonished' at what he called 'an attempted hatchet job' and 'bad, poor journalism'. He described the BBC response when he attempted to raise a complaint as arrogant and insulting. He said: 'This is a public broadcaster. The public pay for all of this. 'They just dismissed it (the complaint), it was offensive, it was insulting and it is what has all of us here today.' The tone of questioning changed dramatically at the end of the first week of the trial when Paul Gallagher SC, acting for the BBC, began his cross-examination of the former Sinn Fein president. The courtroom was packed as Ireland's former attorney general rose to commence the questioning. His direction became clear at once when Mr Gallagher asked Mr Adams how many people had been killed in the Troubles and how many were victims of the IRA. 'A lot – what has this got to do with the Spotlight programme?' Mr Adams responded. The barrister listed some of the most infamous episodes of Northern Ireland's past – Bloody Friday, the Claudy bombings, La Mon – and asked Mr Adams how many victims were killed in each. Mr Adams responded that it was not fair to ask him to remember every death that occurred, adding: 'You're trivialising those deaths, if you don't mind me saying so.' As the line of questioning continued into the second week of the trial, Mr Adams complained that an attempt was being made to 'smother' the jury in history. He repeatedly said he would not speculate when asked about members, structures or rules of the IRA. 'What on earth has this got to do with Denis Donaldson?' Mr Adams asked on several occasions as the cross-examination went on. Under questioning, the former Sinn Fein leader said: 'I have never resiled from my view that the IRA's campaign, whatever about elements of it, was a legitimate response to military occupation.' He told the jury that IRA membership 'wasn't a path that I took', saying he instead joined Sinn Fein, adding that the republican party 'was not the political wing of any organisation'. He conceded that claims about about him being a member of the Army Council of the IRA had been raised multiple times in public. He said he had repeatedly received legal advice that he would 'not get any sort of a fair hearing' to challenge various claims made about him in the press. At one point Mr Adams turned the questioning on Mr Gallagher: 'Why are you trying to persuade the jury I have no reputation whatsoever?' Mr Adams said the Spotlight programme suggested his work to end violence in Northern Ireland 'was a scam' and he considered this to be a 'lie' and 'grievous smear'. On his final day of questioning, it was put to Mr Adams that he had carried the coffins of prominent IRA members during their funerals. He replied: 'You're trying to persuade this jury I had no reputation whatsoever because I attended funerals? 'And therefore Spotlight could say whatever they want about me and I would have no redress?' Asked by the judge for his reflections on the IRA's campaign of violence, Mr Adams added: 'My big regret is that so many people were killed and particularly civilians. 'My abiding regret is that it took so long to get a peace process together.' The questioning concluded. The jury had heard Mr Adams' legal team describe his reputation as that of a peacemaker. The BBC barristers argued that it was 'universally held' that he had a reputation of being in the IRA and on its Army Council. The former Sinn Fein president's barrister Tom Hogan SC summed up the paradox when he said: 'To some he is a hero, to some he is not.'
Rhyl Journal
4 days ago
- Politics
- Rhyl Journal
What Gerry Adams said during seven days of evidence in BBC defamation trial
The jury at Dublin High Court heard hours of evidence from the former Sinn Fein leader. His testimony was wide-ranging, including a lengthy account of his early years and political awakenings. At times he became emotional as he recalled past events. Mr Adams' arrival at the Four Courts caused a stir each morning. The posse of media cameras was always there to meet him and he was greeted by the occasional well-wisher at the gates of the court. However, inside there were fewer pleasantries as the 67-year-old faced days of tense questioning by a barrister for the BBC, probing the senior republican's recollection around a series of IRA atrocities. The marathon evidence session began on the afternoon of the first day of the defamation case as the former MP and TD was invited by his own barrister, Declan Doyle SC, to tell the jury about his upbringing during a time of turmoil on the streets of Belfast. Trial judge Mr Justice Alexander Owens indulged the reminiscences to an extent before gently urging Mr Doyle to quicken his pace of questioning. Describing political and civil developments in the 1970s and 1980s, Mr Adams said: 'I do think the IRA was a legitimate response to what was happening at the time.' Soon attention turned to the Spotlight programme that led Mr Adams to sue the BBC over allegation that he sanctioned the 2006 murder of Denis Donaldson, a Sinn Fein official who had been exposed as a spy. Mr Adams told the court he remembered watching the programme and being 'astonished' at what he called 'an attempted hatchet job' and 'bad, poor journalism'. He described the BBC response when he attempted to raise a complaint as arrogant and insulting. He said: 'This is a public broadcaster. The public pay for all of this. 'They just dismissed it (the complaint), it was offensive, it was insulting and it is what has all of us here today.' The tone of questioning changed dramatically at the end of the first week of the trial when Paul Gallagher SC, acting for the BBC, began his cross-examination of the former Sinn Fein president. The courtroom was packed as Ireland's former attorney general rose to commence the questioning. His direction became clear at once when Mr Gallagher asked Mr Adams how many people had been killed in the Troubles and how many were victims of the IRA. 'A lot – what has this got to do with the Spotlight programme?' Mr Adams responded. The barrister listed some of the most infamous episodes of Northern Ireland's past – Bloody Friday, the Claudy bombings, La Mon – and asked Mr Adams how many victims were killed in each. Mr Adams responded that it was not fair to ask him to remember every death that occurred, adding: 'You're trivialising those deaths, if you don't mind me saying so.' As the line of questioning continued into the second week of the trial, Mr Adams complained that an attempt was being made to 'smother' the jury in history. He repeatedly said he would not speculate when asked about members, structures or rules of the IRA. 'What on earth has this got to do with Denis Donaldson?' Mr Adams asked on several occasions as the cross-examination went on. Under questioning, the former Sinn Fein leader said: 'I have never resiled from my view that the IRA's campaign, whatever about elements of it, was a legitimate response to military occupation.' He told the jury that IRA membership 'wasn't a path that I took', saying he instead joined Sinn Fein, adding that the republican party 'was not the political wing of any organisation'. He conceded that claims about about him being a member of the Army Council of the IRA had been raised multiple times in public. He said he had repeatedly received legal advice that he would 'not get any sort of a fair hearing' to challenge various claims made about him in the press. At one point Mr Adams turned the questioning on Mr Gallagher: 'Why are you trying to persuade the jury I have no reputation whatsoever?' Mr Adams said the Spotlight programme suggested his work to end violence in Northern Ireland 'was a scam' and he considered this to be a 'lie' and 'grievous smear'. On his final day of questioning, it was put to Mr Adams that he had carried the coffins of prominent IRA members during their funerals. He replied: 'You're trying to persuade this jury I had no reputation whatsoever because I attended funerals? 'And therefore Spotlight could say whatever they want about me and I would have no redress?' Asked by the judge for his reflections on the IRA's campaign of violence, Mr Adams added: 'My big regret is that so many people were killed and particularly civilians. 'My abiding regret is that it took so long to get a peace process together.' The questioning concluded. The jury had heard Mr Adams' legal team describe his reputation as that of a peacemaker. The BBC barristers argued that it was 'universally held' that he had a reputation of being in the IRA and on its Army Council. The former Sinn Fein president's barrister Tom Hogan SC summed up the paradox when he said: 'To some he is a hero, to some he is not.'
The Journal
06-05-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Gerry Adams tells High Court he won't 'speculate' about who was in charge of the IRA in 1970s
GERRY ADAMS HAS said he would not 'speculate' on who was in the IRA, during a defamation case he has taken against the BBC. The former Sinn Féin leader said an attempt is being made to 'smother' the jury in history as he was questioned over past statements and events during The Troubles. Adams faced cross-examination over his knowledge of who was in the IRA and the organisation's rules, on which he repeatedly said he would not 'speculate' in court. Asked about who was in charge of the West Belfast brigade of the IRA in 1972, Adams said: 'I'm not going to speculate.' He said a number of people had acknowledged publicly that they were members of the IRA but he was 'not prepared to speculate in this court' on who would have been in the IRA at any time. Barrister for the BBC Paul Gallagher SC asked Adams whether his answer was that throughout the period of The Troubles, apart from people who identified themselves as members of the IRA, that he was not aware of who was in the IRA. 'You don't seem to be prepared to accept my answers,' Adams replied. Adams is continuing to give evidence in his defamation case against the BBC at the High Court in Dublin. He claims a BBC Spotlight programme, and an accompanying online story, defamed him by alleging he sanctioned the killing of the former Sinn Féin official Denis Donaldson. Donaldson, who had worked for Sinn Féin, was shot dead in Donegal in 2006, months after admitting his role as a police and MI5 agent for 20 years. Adams denies any involvement. In 2009, the Real IRA admitted killing Donaldson. The Spotlight programme was broadcast in September 2016. The trial opened last week with barrister for Adams, Tom Hogan SC, saying the former Sinn Fein president's reputation as a 'peacemaker' had suffered an 'unjustified' attack because of the broadcast of the BBC programme. In the witness box, Adams said he 'liked' and 'knew' Mr Donaldson, but did not have many dealings with him. Beginning his cross-examination on Friday afternoon, Paul Gallagher SC asked Adams if he remembered how many people were killed in various atrocities during The Troubles. Adams told the hearing he did not remember how many people were killed in incidents such as Bloody Friday or the Claudy bombings, and asked what it had to do with Donaldson. Today, Adams entered the witness box for a fifth day. Advertisement The jury was shown a montage of various broadcast footage of interviews with figures such as Peter McMullan, who said he was a former IRA member who worked with Adams in the Belfast brigade. The jury were also shown a video clip of Adams from 1987 where he was asked about the death of Charles McIlmurray. 'Mr McIlmurray, like anyone living in West Belfast knows, that the consequence of informing is death,' he said in the clip. Under cross-examination from Gallagher, Adams said his remark was 'very harsh' but was made along with other comments at a press conference including expressing his commiserations with the family of McIlmurray. He denied that the statement was made as a warning or a threat, or that he was attributing blame to Mr McIlmurray. Gallagher asked him several times if he was aware of the structures and rules of the IRA, to which Adams said several times he would not 'speculate' in court and had already answered the question. 'I don't intend to speculate on any of those issues in relation to the IRA,' Adams said. When pressed on whether he was not going to answer any questions in relation to the IRA, Adams said an attempt was made to 'smother them (the jury) in an awful history'. 'What on earth has this got to do with Denis Donaldson,' Adams said. Adams was also asked about an interview with the Guardian in 1982 which the court heard quotes him as stating that the only complaints he had from republicans and anti-unionists about the death of politician Norman Stronge in 1981 was that he was not shot 40 years ago. Adams said his comments reflected opinion at the time, and said he himself was 'shocked' by the killing. 'It's a matter of history, it's done,' he said. Under questioning, he said: 'I have never resiled from my view that the IRA's campaign, whatever about elements of it, was a legitimate response to military occupation.' He said he was not 'resiling' from that position while on the stand. Adams said he could not comment on why people including informers were 'disappeared' during the Troubles, but called it 'horrific'. 'It was wrong, bad enough that informers were being killed, but to disappear their bodies was totally and absolutely wrong.' He told the court he believes he had met all the families of those who were shot and secretly buried by the IRA. Adams, 76, stepped down as Sinn Féin president in 2018 after 34 years at the helm. He served as an MP for West Belfast and represented the Louth constituency in the Dáil parliament until the 2020 general election, when he retired from politics. The trial, which is expected to last four weeks, continues.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Attempt being made to ‘smother jury in history', Adams tells libel trial
Gerry Adams has said an attempt is being made to 'smother' the jury in history as he was questioned over his past statements and events during the Troubles. The former Sinn Fein leader faced cross-examination over his knowledge of who was in the IRA and the organisation's rules, on which he repeatedly said he would not 'speculate' in court. Mr Adams is continuing to give evidence in his defamation case against the BBC at the High Court in Dublin. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement He claims a BBC Spotlight programme, and an accompanying online story, defamed him by alleging he sanctioned the killing of the former Sinn Fein official Denis Donaldson. Gerry Adams was continuing to give evidence in his defamation case against the BBC on Tuesday (Liam McBurney/PA) Mr Donaldson, who had worked for Sinn Fein, was shot dead in Donegal in 2006, months after admitting his role as a police and MI5 agent for 20 years. Mr Adams denies any involvement. In 2009, the Real IRA admitted killing Mr Donaldson. The Spotlight programme was broadcast in September 2016. The trial opened last week with barrister for Mr Adams, Tom Hogan SC, saying the former Sinn Fein president's reputation as a 'peacemaker' had suffered an 'unjustified' attack because of the broadcast of the BBC programme. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement In the witness box, Mr Adams said he 'liked' and 'knew' Mr Donaldson, but did not have many dealings with him. Beginning his cross-examination on Friday afternoon, Paul Gallagher SC asked Mr Adams if he remembered how many people were killed in various atrocities during The Troubles. Mr Adams told the hearing he did not remember how many people were killed in incidents such as Bloody Friday or the Claudy bombings, and asked what it had to do with Mr Donaldson. On Tuesday, Mr Adams entered the witness box for a fifth day. The jury was shown a montage of various broadcast footage of interviews with figures such as Peter McMullan, who said he was a former IRA member who worked with Mr Adams in the Belfast brigade. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The jury were also shown a video clip of Mr Adams from 1987 where he was asked about the death of Charles McIlmurray. 'Mr McIlmurray, like anyone living in West Belfast knows, that the consequence of informing is death,' he said in the clip. Under cross-examination from Mr Gallagher, Mr Adams said his remark was 'very harsh' but was made along with other comments at a press conference including expressing his commiserations with the family of Mr McIlmurray. He denied that the statement was made as a warning or a threat, or that he was attributing blame to Mr McIlmurray. Mr Gallagher asked him several times if he was aware of the structures and rules of the IRA, to which Mr Adams said several times he would not 'speculate' in court and had already answered the question. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement 'I don't intend to speculate on any of those issues in relation to the IRA,' Mr Adams said. When pressed on whether he was not going to answer any questions in relation to the IRA, Mr Adams said an attempt was made to 'smother them (the jury) in an awful history'. 'What on earth has this got to do with Denis Donaldson,' Mr Adams said. Mr Adams said he could not comment on why people including informers were 'disappeared' during the Troubles, but called it 'horrific'. 'It was wrong, bad enough that informers were being killed, but to disappear their bodies was totally and absolutely wrong.' He told the court he believes he had met all the families of those who were shot and secretly buried by the IRA. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Mr Adams, 76, stepped down as Sinn Fein president in 2018 after 34 years at the helm. He served as an MP for West Belfast and represented the Louth constituency in the Dail parliament until the 2020 general election, when he retired from politics. The trial, which is expected to last four weeks, continues.
