Former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has won a defamation case against the BBC.
Mr Adams claimed he was defamed in a 2016 Spotlight programme and a subsequent online article, which he said falsely claimed that he sanctioned the killing of former senior Sinn Féin official Denis Donaldson in Donegal.
Mr Donaldson was shot dead near Glenties in 2006, months after admitting being an informer for the police and MI5 over two decades.
The jury was asked if the words used in the programme meant Mr Adams had sanctioned the murder and not just presented as an allegation as the BBC had argued.
It answered yes to this question and rejected the BBC’s defence that it was fair and reasonable to broadcast it in the public interest.
It therefore moved on to assess any damages.
The jury of 11 awarded €100,000 in damages to Mr Adams after seven hours of deliberations.
In the witness box, Mr Adams said the allegation made by a source named as “Martin” in the Spotlight programme was an “attempted hatchet job” and a “grievous smear”.
His lawyers described him as having a reputation as a “peacemaker” who was instrumental in the Good Friday Agreement. The jury was shown a montage of TV news clips with Mr Adams interacting with world leaders throughout the peace process.
Former US congressman Bruce Morrison, who gave evidence by video link, said Gerry Adams was regarded as a “serious man on a serious mission” for the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement.
However, Independent Senator Michael McDowell told the jury that he had never met a politician or a member of the media who did not believe that Gerry Adams was a leading figure in the IRA and on its army council.
Read the full report on www.rte.ie
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