Former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams has been awarded €100,000 (£84,000) in damages after winning his defamation action against the BBC.
The 76-year-old had claimed a BBC Spotlight programme and an online article published in 2016 defamed him by falsely accusing him of sanctioning the murder of British informant Denis Donaldson.
Mr Donaldson, 55, was shot dead at a cottage near Glenties, County Donegal in 2006, months after being exposed as a British agent.
During the civil defamation trial at the High Court in Dublin, Mr Adams claimed the Spotlight programme was an “attempted hatchet job” that was “full of inaccuracies”.
The programme featured an anonymous IRA source named “Martin” who said that murders had to be approved by the political and military leadership of the IRA. When pressed on who he was referring to, “Martin” replied: “Gerry Adams. He gives the final say”.
Mr Adams, who spent seven days in the witness box during the trial, described the allegation as a “grievous smear”.
He told the court that he had “liked” Mr Donaldson and was “shocked” to learn of his murder.
“Personally, I think Denis Donaldson was a victim of the conflict. I don’t see any other way of describing it,” he said.
Martin McGuinnes, Denis Donaldson and Gerry Adams.
Pic: PA
The BBC denied it defamed Mr Adams and claimed the Spotlight programme and article were put out in good faith and during the course of discussion on a subject of public and vital interest.
The BBC defended its “responsible journalism” that was the result of careful investigation, and argued it was merely reporting allegations, rather than standing over them.
Mr Adams’s legal team sought at least €200,000 (£168,000) in damages. The former Sinn Fein president had said he would give any award received to good causes.
His testimony during the trial was wide-ranging, including a lengthy account of his early years and political awakenings. At times he became emotional as he recalled past events.
The scene of the 2006 murder of Sinn Fein member and British spy Denis Donaldson.
File pic: PA
Following the verdict, Mr Adams’s solicitor Paul Tweed said his client is “very pleased” with the outcome and the award of damages “speaks for itself”.
He said: “Not only had the false allegation regarding our client been the focus of the Spotlight documentary, but it had been utilised to sensationalise and publicise their programme.
“Furthermore, the fact that the false allegation has been left online for almost nine years has, in my opinion, done much to undermine the high standards of accuracy that is expected of the BBC.
“This case could and should have been resolved some considerable time ago.”
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