Latest news with #DenisDonaldson
Telegraph
2 hours ago
- General
- Telegraph
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.'
BreakingNews.ie
3 hours ago
- General
- BreakingNews.ie
Adams libel trial ‘retraumatising' for Denis Donaldson's family, lawyer says
The family of Denis Donaldson suffered retraumatisation during Gerry Adams' defamation case against the BBC, their lawyer has said. Solicitor Enda McGarrity said the family had to sit through the high-profile five-week case at Dublin High Court when their own efforts to pursue legal remedies have been 'stonewalled at every turn'. Advertisement Mr Adams was awarded €100,000 by a jury over a 2016 BBC programme which alleged he had sanctioned the murder of Mr Donaldson, a former Sinn Féin member who had been exposed as a British agent. Mr Adams had described the allegation as a 'grievous smear'. Mr Donaldson was shot dead in Co Donegal in 2006. Enda McGarrity said the Gerry Adams libel case against the BBC had been extremely difficult for the Donaldson family Photo: Liam McBurney/PA. In 2009, the dissident republican group the Real IRA claimed responsibility for the killing and a Garda investigation into the matter remains ongoing. Mr McGarrity told the RTÉ This Week programme the Donaldson family had been initially 'ambivalent' as to the outcome of the case. Advertisement He said: 'The case was seen as a sideshow in that the family was aware it wasn't the type of case which would assist them in their long and tortuous search for answers and accountability. 'But of course as the trial played out it became difficult to ignore and retraumatising in many ways. 'The family had to listen along as private and sensitive information was tossed around with little regard to the Donaldson family. 'Probably the most galling part for the family is that they've had to sit through five weeks of hearings in a case which concerned the murder of their loved one Denis Donaldson, and yet when they've tried to pursue their own legal remedies, they've been stonewalled at every turn. Advertisement 'The process has been an extremely difficult one for the family.' Now that the libel case has concluded, Mr McGarrity said focus should turn to seeking answers for the Donaldson family. He said: 'It has been a tortuous 19-year search for justice and the family acknowledge this case was ostensibly about Gerry Adams' reputation, not about uncovering the circumstances surrounding the murder of Denis Donaldson. 'However, what this case does do is shine a light on the wider, and clearly more important issue of the circumstances around Denis Donaldson's murder.' Advertisement 'The fact that the family have never had anything resembling an effective investigation into this murder highlights an uncomfortable truth for authorities on both sides of the border, particularly where legacy cases are concerned.' Mr McGarrity said the Donaldson family had been ambivalent about the outcome of the Adams libel trial. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA. The lawyer said the current Garda investigation was limited to who carried out the murder, not the wider circumstances. He said: 'When we look to mechanisms which could explore those you have things like coroners' inquests, one of the practical difficulties is that the inquest has been adjourned 27 times, quite an unprecedented delay. 'It begs the question, how is justice to be delivered to the Donaldson family if the Garda investigation is only looking at a limited aspect of the murder and the coroner's inquest won't begin until that process finishes. Advertisement 'That has led the family to call for a commission of investigation to properly investigate these issues.' Mr McGarrity said there was a 'unique cross-border element' to the death of Mr Donaldson. He added: 'Who was behind it and who pulled the trigger isn't the only question. The circumstances leading up to that, how Denis Donaldson came to be exposed, how his location came to be known in Donegal, there are lots of ancillary questions. 'All of which I think the family are aware we may not get full unvarnished answers to every aspect, but at this point they haven't even got close to the truth and they deserve answers and accountability.' Ireland What Gerry Adams said during seven days of evidenc... Read More He said the Donaldson family would now be seeking a meeting with Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan. 'This family are 19 years down the line and they are no further forward. 'There needs to be a discussion and we would certainly welcome prompt engagement with the minister.'
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Adams libel trial ‘retraumatising' for Denis Donaldson's family, lawyer says
The family of Denis Donaldson suffered retraumatisation during Gerry Adams' defamation case against the BBC, their lawyer has said. Solicitor Enda McGarrity said the family had to sit through the high-profile five-week case at Dublin High Court when their own efforts to pursue legal remedies have been 'stonewalled at every turn'. Mr Adams was awarded 100,000 euros (£84,000) by a jury over a 2016 BBC programme which alleged he had sanctioned the murder of Mr Donaldson, a former Sinn Fein member who had been exposed as a British agent. Mr Adams had described the allegation as a 'grievous smear'. Mr Donaldson was shot dead in Co Donegal in 2006. In 2009, the dissident republican group the Real IRA claimed responsibility for the killing and a Garda investigation into the matter remains ongoing. Mr McGarrity told the RTE This Week programme the Donaldson family had been initially 'ambivalent' as to the outcome of the case. He said: 'The case was seen as a sideshow in that the family was aware it wasn't the type of case which would assist them in their long and tortuous search for answers and accountability. 'But of course as the trial played out it became difficult to ignore and retraumatising in many ways. 'The family had to listen along as private and sensitive information was tossed around with little regard to the Donaldson family. 'Probably the most galling part for the family is that they've had to sit through five weeks of hearings in a case which concerned the murder of their loved one Denis Donaldson, and yet when they've tried to pursue their own legal remedies, they've been stonewalled at every turn. 'The process has been an extremely difficult one for the family.' Now that the libel case has concluded, Mr McGarrity said focus should turn to seeking answers for the Donaldson family. He said: 'It has been a tortuous 19-year search for justice and the family acknowledge this case was ostensibly about Gerry Adams' reputation, not about uncovering the circumstances surrounding the murder of Denis Donaldson. 'However, what this case does do is shine a light on the wider, and clearly more important issue of the circumstances around Denis Donaldson's murder.' 'The fact that the family have never had anything resembling an effective investigation into this murder highlights an uncomfortable truth for authorities on both sides of the border, particularly where legacy cases are concerned.' The lawyer said the current Garda investigation was limited to who carried out the murder, not the wider circumstances. He said: 'When we look to mechanisms which could explore those you have things like coroners' inquests, one of the practical difficulties is that the inquest has been adjourned 27 times, quite an unprecedented delay. 'It begs the question, how is justice to be delivered to the Donaldson family if the Garda investigation is only looking at a limited aspect of the murder and the coroner's inquest won't begin until that process finishes. 'That has led the family to call for a commission of investigation to properly investigate these issues.' Mr McGarrity said there was a 'unique cross-border element' to the death of Mr Donaldson. He added: 'Who was behind it and who pulled the trigger isn't the only question. The circumstances leading up to that, how Denis Donaldson came to be exposed, how his location came to be known in Donegal, there are lots of ancillary questions. 'All of which I think the family are aware we may not get full unvarnished answers to every aspect, but at this point they haven't even got close to the truth and they deserve answers and accountability.' He said the Donaldson family would now be seeking a meeting with Irish Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan. 'This family are 19 years down the line and they are no further forward. 'There needs to be a discussion and we would certainly welcome prompt engagement with the minister.'
Belfast Telegraph
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Republicans doubt Real IRA claim over MI5 informant's killing
Donegal dissident held in Scottish prison could yet face charges Although claimed by the Real IRA and an arrest warrant issued for a dissident suspect, few in republican circles believe the group murdered Denis Donaldson on its own. They took responsibility for the killing three years after he was shot dead in April 2006 at a cottage in Donegal. The attack came five months after Donaldson (55) outed himself as an MI5 spy at the heart of Sinn Fein.
Sunday World
a day 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'.
