Gerry adams awarded more than £80k in damages from bbc after winning libel case

MR ADAMS’ LEGAL TEAM SAID THE VERDICT OF THE JURY WAS A “FULL VINDICATION” FOR THEIR CLIENT 14:37, 30 May 2025Updated 14:41, 30 May 2025 The BBC has been ordered to pay former Sinn Fein

leader Gerry Adams £84,000 after he won a libel case over the broadcaster on Friday. Mr Adams took the BBC to court over an 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, for which he denies any involvement. Mr Donaldson was shot dead in Co

Donegal in 2006, months after admitting he had been acting as an MI5 agent for over 20 years. In the programme broadcast in September 2016, an anonymous source given the pseudonym Martin

claimed the shooting was sanctioned by the political and military leadership of the IRA and that Mr Adams gave "the final say". The 76-year-old has always denied any involvement in

the murder, and a jury at the High Court in Dublin today ruled in his favour. They found that the BBC’s actions were not in good faith and the corporation had not acted in a fair and

reasonable way. Article continues below Mr Adams’ legal team said the verdict of the jury was a "full vindication" for their client while the BBC said it was

"disappointed" with the outcome. The British public service broadcaster had initially argued it would be a "cruel joke" to award the former Sinn Fein president any

damages. It had argued the allegation was corroborated by five other sources and that Mr Adams had a reputation of being a member of the IRA. After six hours and 49 minutes of deliberations

in total, the jury awarded the plaintiff 100,000 euro (£84,000) – which falls within the "medium" range for defamation. Speaking outside court in Dublin, Mr Adams said taking this

case was "about putting manners on the British Broadcasting Corporation". He told reporters: "I know many, many journalists. I like to think that I get on well with the most

of them, and I wish you well, and I would uphold your right to do your job. "But the British Broadcasting Corporation 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." He continued: "It hasn’t caught on to where we are on this island as part of the process, the continuing

process, of building peace and justice, and harmony, and, hopefully, in the time ahead, unity." Article continues below Mr Adams added there is an onus on everyone, including himself,

to deal with these legacy issues. In 2009, the dissident republican group, the Real IRA, claimed responsibility for the killing of Mr Donaldson and a Garda investigation into the matter

remains ongoing.