Former Sinn Fein leader wins BBC defamation case

Former Sinn Fein person Gerry Adams has won his defamation enactment against the BBC astatine the High Court successful Dublin.

The 76-year-old has been awarded 100,000 euros (£84,000) successful damages.

Adams claimed a BBC Spotlight programme and an online nonfiction published successful 2016 defamed him by falsely accusing him of sanctioning the execution of British informant Denis Donaldson.

Donaldson, 55, was changeable dormant astatine a cottage adjacent Glenties, County Donegal successful 2006, months aft being exposed arsenic a British agent.

During the civilian defamation proceedings astatine the High Court successful Dublin, Adams claimed the Spotlight programme was an "attempted hatchet job" that was "full of inaccuracies".

The programme featured an anonymous IRA root named "Martin" who said that murders had to beryllium approved by the governmental and subject enactment of the IRA. When pressed connected who helium was referring to, "Martin" replied: "Gerry Adams. He gives the last say".

Adams described the allegation arsenic a "grievous smear".

He told the tribunal that helium had "liked" Donaldson and was "shocked" to larn of his murder.

"Personally, I deliberation Denis Donaldson was a unfortunate of the conflict. I don't spot immoderate different mode of describing it," helium said.

The BBC denied it defamed Mr Adams and claimed the Spotlight programme and nonfiction were enactment retired successful bully religion and during the people of treatment connected a taxable of nationalist and captious interest.

The BBC defended its "responsible journalism" that was the effect of cautious investigation, and argued it was simply reporting allegations, alternatively than lasting implicit them.

Adams's ineligible squad sought astatine slightest €200,000 (£168,000) successful damages. The erstwhile Sinn Fein president had said helium would springiness immoderate grant received to bully causes.

This breaking quality communicative is being updated and much details volition beryllium published shortly.

Please refresh the leafage for the fullest version.

You tin person breaking quality alerts connected a smartphone oregon tablet via the Sky News app. You tin besides follow america connected WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to support up with the latest news.