Gerry Adams and BBC barrister in sharp exchanges in libel case

There had been some sharp exchanges between Gerry Adams and a barrister appearing for the BBC at the fourth day of the previous Sinn Féin chief’s libel motion in opposition to the broadcaster.

Mr Adams, 76, was once referred to as again to the witness seat on the High Court in Dublin on Friday afternoon, marking the beginning of his cross-examination.

He is looking for damages from the BBC over a 2016 Spotlight programme which, he claims, defamed him through pointing out that he sanctioned the homicide of Denis Donaldson.

Mr Adams denies any involvement.

Mr Donaldson had labored for Sinn Féin and was once shot lifeless in Donegal in 2006, months after admitting his position as a police and MI5 agent for 20 years.

Barrister Paul Gallagher SC, appearing for the BBC, started through mentioning the choice of other folks killed all over the Troubles – round 3,500.

He requested Mr Adams what quantity had been murdered through the Provisional IRA.

Mr Adams answered: “I don’t have the exact figure…what’s this got to do with the Spotlight programme?”

He was once requested if he may just recall the choice of fatalities in different IRA assaults, indexed separately, from the early 1970s, together with Bloody Friday and the bombing at Claudy.

Mr Adams mentioned he may just now not and at one level requested: “We shouldn’t make this a test of my memory.”

Mr Gallagher then raised the murders of 10 protestants at Kingsmills in 1976, an assault extensively believed to had been performed through the IRA.

Mr Adams mentioned he had condemned the incident on the time and added: “I have never heard a claim of that incident by the IRA.

“I feared that republicans could have been concerned and that’s the reason why I identified it was once incorrect.

“I also pointed out the danger of engaging in sectarian actions. It was a dreadful incident and I said so at the time.”

Turning to the wider context of the Troubles, Mr Adams went on: “The IRA was entitled to use armed actions.

“When you are living beneath profession there are, in sure instances, a legitimacy of armed movements.

“I wouldn’t agree with everything the IRA did – I didn’t want to see anyone killed.”

Later, when requested concerning the homicide of a jail officer, Mr Adams answered: “I cannot be expected to remember every death.”

He accused Mr Gallagher of “rhyming off” person incidents, including: “What has this got to do with Denis Donaldson?”

Mr Gallagher mentioned it was once for Mr Adams’ barrister to object, including: “Your function here is to answer questions.”

To which Mr Adams mentioned: “But you persist in asking me to remember atrocities.”

The cross-examination lasted about 90 mins and is because of resume on Tuesday morning.

On Thursday, the courtroom heard Mr Adam was once insulted through the BBC’s reaction to his grievance.

His attorneys learn out correspondence between his solicitors and the BBC after its tale in 2016.

Mr Adams’ solicitors wrote in search of an apology and repayment, however the BBC’s attorneys rejected the therapies sought through Mr Adams.

The company mentioned it was once happy the programme was once the manufactured from accountable journalism which adopted its editorial tips.

Mr Adams was once the president of republican birthday party 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 finally introduced an finish to the Troubles after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.

He was once 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.

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

He was once 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 birthday party’s Stormont workplaces.

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

He was once discovered lifeless in a small, run down cottage in Glenties, County Donegal.