Former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has won his libel case against the BBC and has been awarded €100,000 (£84,000) in damages.
While not the €200,000 (£168,000) settlement Adams was seeking, he has still been awarded a significant sum of €100,000 (£84,000).
Adams says he will donate the money to “good causes”.
Adams sued the BBC after a 2016 programme and online report, in which an anonymous source alleged he sanctioned the murder of a British agent, Denis Donaldson.
Smear
Lawyers for Adams accused the BBC of a “grievous smear” and “hatchet job”. Lawyers for the broadcaster defended the documentary and said the libel action was a cynical attempt to launder Adams’s reputation.
The BBC argued the words were couched as allegations – but Adams argued they were presented as fact
Speaking outside court, Adams says the case could have been resolved a long time ago, adding he was “very mindful” of the Donaldson family throughout the trial.
The legal bill for Gerry Adams versus the BBC is believed to be between €3-5m (£2.5m-4.2m), according to sources with knowledge of the case, reports The BBC…
It is understood to have been one of the most expensive cases the corporation has ever fought.
Adams statement
Speaking outside the court, Adams said: “From my perspective, taking this case was about putting manners on the British Broadcasting Corporation. 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. 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.”
Paul Tweed, a solicitor for Adams, said his client was very pleased at the verdict, which he said showed the BBC should not have included the disputed claim in its broadcast. “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,” said Tweed.
“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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