Gerry Adams accuses BBC of saying he has ‘no popularity’ to libel

Gerry Adams has complained that the BBC is trying to influence a libel jury in Dublin that he has “no reputation whatsoever”, as a part of its defence towards his declare for damages.

Mr Adams is giving extra proof in his case towards the company.

He believes he used to be defamed in a Spotlight programme and accompanying on-line article, which, he claims, have been incorrect to state he sanctioned the homicide of Denis Donaldson in 2006. He denies any involvement.

Mr Adams used to be many times requested about his alleged club of the IRA’s military council – a declare he many times denied – by way of a barrister for the BBC.

Paul Gallagher SC used to be cross-examining Mr Adams on Wednesday and referred to more than one books and newspaper tales about Mr Adams.

Mr Adams requested him: “Why are you trying to persuade the jury I have no reputation whatsoever?”

He then claimed Mr Gallagher used to be making an attempt to “smother” the 12-person jury in “obscure quotes” from 3 or 4 a long time in the past.

Addressing the allegation about being at the military council, he mentioned he used to be “irritated” by way of it, including: “It’s not true”.

“Like the allegation in the Spotlight programme, that’s a lie.”

He mentioned he had by no means sued over the allegation as his solicitors had instructed him he would by no means get an excellent listening to.

At one level of court cases, Mr Adams’ barrister, Declan Doyle SC, objected to Mr Gallagher’s line of wondering, declaring the tales he referred to “are not evidence of anything”.

The pass judgement on, Mr Justice Alexander Owens, then interjected.

“All this blather about Mr Adams being a member of the army council is not something you have to decide,” he instructed the jury.

He mentioned, then again, the defendants, the BBC, are entitled to invite Mr Adams about problems associated with his public popularity and statements he had made previously.

Mr Adams used to be additionally requested about Say Nothing, the Disney drama collection concerning the IRA, in accordance with the ebook of the similar identify by way of Patrick Radden Keefe.

It depicts Mr Adams as an IRA chief.

He mentioned he had now not observed it, including: “Life’s too short to watch Disney, especially when it is dealing with serious issues.”

Mr Adams additionally mentioned he had now not learn the ebook, had declined to co-operate with its creator and that it used to be in accordance with the “discredited” Boston Tapes.

He authorized what has been mentioned about him by way of the media for years, however mentioned: “I don’t for a second acknowledge the accuracy of the allegations.

“I deny them.”

Referring to Mr Gallagher’s questioning, he said: “It’s extra of the similar of the similar of the similar.

“Not a word about Spotlight. How long have we been talking?”

In the case of the motion towards the BBC, Mr Adams mentioned it confirmed how severely he took the allegation contained within the Spotlight programme.

He mentioned he had sued towards what he considers to be a subject that “sets aside the huge work that was done” by way of him and others at the peace procedure.

He mentioned the import of the programme used to be that his paintings to finish the marketing campaign of violence “was a scam” and that the IRA military council had accepted the killing of Mr Donaldson and requested Mr Adams for permission.

He claimed this to be a “lie” and “grievous smear” which undermined what the peace procedure had accomplished.

“The war is done. We’re all in a better place,” Mr Adams mentioned.

Mr Donaldson used to be as soon as a key determine in Sinn Féin’s upward thrust as a political drive in Northern Ireland however he used to be discovered murdered in 2006 after it emerged he were a undercover agent.

He used to be interned with out trial for sessions within the 1970s.

After the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, Sinn Féin appointed Mr Donaldson as its key administrator within the celebration’s Stormont workplaces.

In 2005 Mr Donaldson confessed he used to be a undercover agent for British intelligence for twenty years, sooner than disappearing from Belfast.

He used to be discovered lifeless in a small, run down cottage in Glenties, County Donegal.

Mr Adams used to be the president of republican celebration Sinn Féin from 1983 till 2018.

He served as MP in his local Belfast West from 1983 to 1992 and once more from 1997 till 2011 sooner than sitting as a TD (Teachta Dála) within the Dáil (Irish parliament) between 2011 and 2020.

Mr Adams led the Sinn Féin delegation all over peace talks that at last introduced an finish to the Troubles after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.

He used to be detained within the early 1970s when the federal government in Northern Ireland presented internment with out trial for the ones suspected of paramilitary involvement.

Mr Adams has constantly denied being a member of the IRA.