Latest news with #JenniferO'Leary
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Irish Independent
Obituary: Father Patrick Ryan, priest known as ‘the Devil's Disciple' for his work as a bomb-maker with the IRA
He was born in Co Tipperary in 1930, the second son of a family of six on a small farm. He joined the Society of the Catholic Apostolate, the Pallottine Fathers, aged 14, became a talented amateur engineer and a mercy pilot as a missionary in Tanganyika. There were clues in his youth to what he would become. His mother was a gifted storyteller who gripped him with stories about her heroism and the wickedness of the Black and Tans a decade before he was born. All you had to do was mention the subject and she was off 'I was captivated by her stories,' he told his biographer, Jennifer O'Leary, in The Padre: The True Story of the Irish Priest Who Armed the IRA with Gaddafi's Money. 'It was like I was back there with her, watching and listening out for the enemy. All she wanted was for us to listen, and we did. All you had to do was mention the subject and she was off, it was in her bones.' From an early age, Ryan displayed characteristics that would be useful in facilitating mass murder: as an eight-year-old poacher of fish, pheasants and rabbits, he showed himself more ruthless than his siblings, who called him Paddy the Skinner. Later, in Tanganyika, he would show an aptitude and enjoyment for big game hunting. When he became a fierce anti-colonialist, he felt remorse for killing three elephants, saying: 'It was elephant country before any man or women.' But he showed no remorse for the men, women and children whose murders he facilitated: 'The only regret I have was that I wasn't more effective; that the bombs made with the components I supplied didn't kill more. That is my one regret.' He was bored with the spiritual part of his job and quit as a curate in 1973. He based himself for a time in Benidorm, collecting millions in donations from the Continent and beyond, which he laundered and delivered to the IRA in complex financial operations. But his major contribution was to transform the efficacy of the IRA's bombs, which had suffered from faulty detonators. In 1975, having spotted Memo Park timers in a Geneva shop window, he purchased the entire stock, which he re-engineered to become perfect bomb timers that would feature in atrocities including the 1979 Warrenpoint massacre of 18 British soldiers and the 1984 Brighton bombing that almost killed Margaret Thatcher. A skilful global arms and finance procurer — 'I set out to go around the world and discover the enemy of my enemy, the Brits, and make their enemy my friend' — he was also quartermaster of a brutally effective IRA murder squad in Belgium and a leading suspect in murders on the Continent. Amid furious international rows, Mrs Thatcher unsuccessfully sought to have him extradited from Belgium and Ireland ('Ryan is a really bad egg,' she told the then taoiseach Charles Haughey). Met with indifference in Belgium, hostility in Ireland and the obduracy of the European Court of Human Rights, she failed at every turn. You never know when you might need to call in a favour Ryan secured 30,000 votes as an Independent candidate in the 1989 European elections in Ireland. In 1993 he was expelled from the Pallottine Order 'for persistent refusal to comply with the legitimate instructions of his superiors'. He fell out with Martin McGuinness ('not to be trusted') and other prominent IRA men such as Joe Cahill ('reckless') and Brian Keenan (who 'should never have been let loose on society'). An attractive young English Protestant became smitten with him in London and sometimes shared the van in which he lived, but he permitted little intimacy in his life. 'I would say she was in love with me, yes,' he said. 'I gave it no thought, but I kept in touch with her because you see, you never know when you might need to call in a favour.' Indeed, she became a money mule until he ditched her as a security risk. 'The trick is to be patient,' he told his biographer, 'because, you see, every person wants something badly, and if you can wait and slowly find out what that something is and then provide it, you're a winner in any walk of life.'
Belfast Telegraph
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Martin says defamation reforms will happen ‘quickly'
Mr Adams took the BBC to court over a 2016 episode of its Spotlight programme, and an accompanying online story, which he said defamed him by alleging he sanctioned the killing of former Sinn Fein official Denis Donaldson, in which he denies any involvement. Last month, a jury at the High Court in Dublin found in his favour and awarded him 100,000 euros (£84,000) after determining that was the meaning of words included in the programme and article. The BBC, which was found by the jury not to have acted in good faith nor in a fair and reasonable way, was also ordered to pay the former Sinn Fein leader's legal costs. At the time, the director of BBC Northern Ireland Adam Smyth said there were 'profound' implications from the jury's decision. 'As our legal team made clear, if the BBC's case cannot be won under existing Irish defamation law, it's hard to see how anyone's could – and they warned that today's decision could hinder freedom of expression.' Spotlight reporter Jennifer O'Leary said she had entered the witness box in the trial with 'nothing to hide, only sources to protect and I want to thank them for trusting me'. The broadcaster's legal team was granted a stay in the payment of the full award as it takes time to consider an appeal. Asked if he agreed with the BBC's assessment of the case on Thursday, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said: 'I think the defamation laws need to be changed – we're going to change them.' Mr Martin said the Government would pass the legislation 'as quickly as we can' and paid tribute to Ms O'Leary. 'I think we do need to get it through to create a balanced environment for commentary and for investigative journalism.' He added: 'Jennifer O'Leary is a first-class journalist.' Among the key provisions in the Defamation Bill highlighted by government are the abolition of juries in High Court defamation actions, which is hoped to reduce delays and legal costs; and of protections against strategic lawsuits, also known as SLAPPs actions, viewed as having a chilling effect on public interest journalism and press freedom. The draft laws also include a statutory power for the Circuit Court to issue a 'Norwich Pharmacal' order, allowing a digital services provider to identify an anonymous poster of defamatory statements online. Mr Martin, who took legal action against Google at the High Court for information about who had financed fake ads which claimed he had endorsed specific cryptocurrencies, added: 'We've published heads of the bill, and (Justice Minister Jim) O'Callaghan is going to proceed, we're going to do it in this Government.'
Glasgow Times
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Implications of Adams' libel victory ‘profound', says head of BBC NI
Adam Smyth, director of BBC NI, said their legal team had warned that the jury's decision in the high-profile defamation case could 'hinder freedom of expression'. The BBC has been ordered to pay the former Sinn Fein leader 100,000 euro (£84,000) after a jury decided they had defamed him in a 2016 episode of its Spotlight programme, and an accompanying online story, by alleging he sanctioned the killing of former Sinn Fein official Denis Donaldson. Mr Adams denies any involvement in Mr Donaldson's death in 2006. Journalist Jennifer O'Leary presented the Spotlight programme (Brian Lawless/PA) Speaking outside Dublin High Court alongside Spotlight reporter Jennifer O'Leary, Mr Smyth said they were disappointed with the verdict. He said: 'We believe we supplied extensive evidence to the court of the careful editorial process and journalistic diligence applied to this programme and accompanying online article. 'Moreover, it was accepted by the court, and conceded by Gerry Adams' legal team, that the Spotlight broadcast and publication were of the highest public interest.' Mr Smyth said the BBC had not wanted to come to court. But he added: 'It was important that we defend our journalism and we stand by that decision. 'Our past is difficult terrain for any jury and we thank them for their diligence and careful consideration of the issues in this case. 'The implications of their decision, though, are profound. 'As our legal team made clear, if the BBC's case cannot be won under existing Irish defamation law, it's hard to see how anyone's could. 'And they warned that today's decision could hinder freedom of expression. 'Of course, 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.' Gerry Adams took the BBC to court over an episode of its Spotlight programme (Brian Lawless/PA) Mr Smyth said the BBC would now take time to consider the implications of the ruling. Ms O'Leary said she had entered the witness box in the trial with 'nothing to hide, only sources to protect and I want to thank them for trusting me'. She paid tribute to the witnesses who had appeared for the BBC in the case, including Ann Travers, whose sister was murdered by the IRA in 1984. She said: 'And there are thousands of Ann Travers across this island and in Britain – victims and survivors of the Troubles and the years after the peace agreement – who carry the burden of their grief and trauma with incredible courage. 'They are the people I'm thinking of – all of them.'
Western Telegraph
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Western Telegraph
Implications of Adams' libel victory ‘profound', says head of BBC NI
Adam Smyth, director of BBC NI, said their legal team had warned that the jury's decision in the high-profile defamation case could 'hinder freedom of expression'. The BBC has been ordered to pay the former Sinn Fein leader 100,000 euro (£84,000) after a jury decided they had defamed him in a 2016 episode of its Spotlight programme, and an accompanying online story, by alleging he sanctioned the killing of former Sinn Fein official Denis Donaldson. Mr Adams denies any involvement in Mr Donaldson's death in 2006. Journalist Jennifer O'Leary presented the Spotlight programme (Brian Lawless/PA) Speaking outside Dublin High Court alongside Spotlight reporter Jennifer O'Leary, Mr Smyth said they were disappointed with the verdict. He said: 'We believe we supplied extensive evidence to the court of the careful editorial process and journalistic diligence applied to this programme and accompanying online article. 'Moreover, it was accepted by the court, and conceded by Gerry Adams' legal team, that the Spotlight broadcast and publication were of the highest public interest.' Mr Smyth said the BBC had not wanted to come to court. But he added: 'It was important that we defend our journalism and we stand by that decision. 'Our past is difficult terrain for any jury and we thank them for their diligence and careful consideration of the issues in this case. 'The implications of their decision, though, are profound. 'As our legal team made clear, if the BBC's case cannot be won under existing Irish defamation law, it's hard to see how anyone's could. 'And they warned that today's decision could hinder freedom of expression. 'Of course, 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.' Gerry Adams took the BBC to court over an episode of its Spotlight programme (Brian Lawless/PA) Mr Smyth said the BBC would now take time to consider the implications of the ruling. Ms O'Leary said she had entered the witness box in the trial with 'nothing to hide, only sources to protect and I want to thank them for trusting me'. She paid tribute to the witnesses who had appeared for the BBC in the case, including Ann Travers, whose sister was murdered by the IRA in 1984. She said: 'And there are thousands of Ann Travers across this island and in Britain – victims and survivors of the Troubles and the years after the peace agreement – who carry the burden of their grief and trauma with incredible courage. 'They are the people I'm thinking of – all of them.'
Belfast Telegraph
15-05-2025
- Belfast Telegraph
Former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams leaves the High Court in Dublin
Jennifer O'Leary said she did not treat the allegation 'recklessly', saying her journalism was carried out in 'good faith'. Ms O'Leary made the comments as she ended her evidence at the libel trial at the High Court in Dublin. Mr Adams has claimed that a BBC Spotlight programme, as well as an accompanying online story, defamed him by alleging he sanctioned the killing of Denis Donaldson.
