Latest news with #DublinHighCourt
Leader Live
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Leader Live
Adams libel trial ‘retraumatising' for Denis Donaldson's family, lawyer says
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.'
North Wales Chronicle
11 hours ago
- Politics
- North Wales Chronicle
Adams libel trial ‘retraumatising' for Denis Donaldson's family, lawyer says
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.'
South Wales Guardian
16 hours ago
- Politics
- South Wales Guardian
Adams libel trial ‘retraumatising' for Denis Donaldson's family, lawyer says
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.'
Rhyl Journal
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Rhyl Journal
Adams libel trial ‘retraumatising' for Denis Donaldson's family, lawyer says
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.'
Powys County Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Powys County Times
Jury heard contrasting evidence about Gerry Adams' reputation
The jury in the Gerry Adams defamation case at Dublin High Court heard dramatically differing evidence about the reputation of the former Sinn Fein leader. One witness said Mr Adams had a reputation of 'seriousness and dependability', while another said it was of a 'warmonger'. Contrasting evidence was also heard about the BBC Spotlight programme that originally broadcast the allegation that Mr Adams sanctioned the murder of British agent Denis Donaldson. One expert media witness said the broadcast did not meet the corporation's editorial thresholds of responsible journalism, while another said it was not unfair or unjust. While the focus of attention in the high-profile trial concentrated on the evidence of Mr Adams and Spotlight journalist Jennifer O'Leary, several other witnesses gave evidence over four weeks. Mr Adams' legal team called the former solicitor for the Donaldson family, Ciaran Shiels, as a witness. He told the jury he had had contact with the BBC team before the Spotlight programme was broadcast. Asked what he would have said to Ms O'Leary if she had put to him the allegation against Mr Adams, Mr Shiels said: 'I would have said to her that not only was she barking up the wrong tree, she wasn't even in the right orchard.' Mr Adams' team then called John Martin O'Loan, who has previously held roles involving senior editorial responsibility, including by establishing Sky News, as an expert on journalistic standards. He told the court: 'The BBC did not meet the editorial thresholds of responsible journalism in its inclusion and presentation of the solo anonymous allegations against Mr Adams.' He said the segment of the Spotlight programme containing the allegation that Mr Adams sanctioned the killing 'lacked sufficient editorial veracity to be published'. Former US congressman Bruce Morrison, who worked with Bill Clinton on Northern Ireland's peace process, gave his evidence by videolink from Bethesda, Maryland. Mr Morrison said Mr Adams was a controversial figure but his reputation was one of a 'serious man on a serious mission who was committed to' the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement. He said his impression of Mr Adams' reputation was that he was an 'elder statesmen' and 'distinguished leader' who had made an 'extraordinary contribution' to change in Northern Ireland. The BBC's legal team also dealt with the Spotlight broadcast and Mr Adams' reputation when it called witnesses to give evidence. Chris Banatvala, who drew up the UK's broadcasting rules for Ofcom and was its founding director of standards, compiled a report based on the Spotlight programme. He told the jury: 'What I have written is, on balance, given the significant public interest, what information is already in the public domain about Gerry Adams, the fact that the BBC reasonably believed its primary source, 'Martin', to be credible and reliable, that the BBC had corroborative evidence from other credible and multiple sources. 'It was couched in terms of allegations, there was an appropriate and timely opportunity to respond, the programme would probably not be found in breach and not be unfair or unjust to Mr Adams.' Campaigners for Troubles victims, Ann Travers and Trevor Ringland, described Mr Adams as as a 'warmonger' and 'peace taker'. Ms Travers' sister Mary was killed by the Provisional IRA in an attack in which her father Tom Travers, who was a lawyer who became a magistrate in 1979, was also shot six times. Asked about Mr Adams, she said: 'His reputation would be one of having been a warmonger.' Asked to explain why, she replied: 'For the Troubles, supporting the IRA and the murder of innocent people.' Mr Ringland, a former Irish rugby international, told the jury his father was shot by the IRA. Asked for the public's perception of Mr Adams, he replied: 'He is seen as a peace taker, not a peacemaker.' He added: 'I think the vast majority of people in Northern Ireland would regard him as a peace taker.' Former Irish attorney general Michael McDowell was called by the BBC to speak about Mr Adams' reputation. He said: 'Amongst the public, he is known as a politician now who was a leading member of the IRA and who was active in the IRA during the period of its armed struggle against the forces of law and order on this island.' He added: 'He is reputed to have been a chief negotiator in, I think, 1974 between the provisional movement and the British government and thereafter he was reputed to have a role in the Belfast IRA as its commanding officer. 'Later he was reputed to have become a member of the Army Council of the IRA.' Referring to the time of the peace process, he said: 'During that period, the view of the (Irish) government based on intelligence briefings was that Mr Adams was a member of the Army Council and was a leading member of the Army Council.'
