![\"PA](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/797c\/live\/c40ced10-3d43-11f0-9672-b5f8c6868c1c.jpg.webp\")
PA Media<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\nGerry Adams has won \u20ac100,000 (\u00a384,000) in damages over a BBC story about the murder of a British agent. <\/p>\n The former Sinn F\u00e9in leader alleged he was defamed in a BBC NI Spotlight programme broadcast in 2016 and an accompanying online article, in which an anonymous contributor alleged he sanctioned the 2006 murder of Denis Donaldson.<\/p>\n Mr Adams, 76, denies any involvement.<\/p>\n The 11-person jury came to its findings after six hours and 49 minutes of deliberations at Dublin’s High Court.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The jury was asked to answer five questions. The first question was whether the words in the programme “mean Mr Adams sanctioned and approved Denis Donaldson’s murder”.<\/p>\n The judge said the jury answered “yes” to question one.<\/p>\n Question two referred to a BBC News NI website story that accompanied the BBC NI Spotlight programme and whether the words in the article meant that Mr Adams sanctioned and approved Denis Donaldson’s murder.<\/p>\n Again the jury answered “yes” to that question.<\/p>\n The third and fourth questions related to whether or not the BBC reported the allegations in good faith.<\/p>\n To these the jury decided “no”.<\/p>\n The fifth question related to how much money Mr Adams should be awarded in damages. <\/p>\n The jury decided he should be awarded \u20ac100,000.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The BBC had argued a defence of fair and reasonable reporting on a matter of public interest.<\/p>\n The trial at the High Court in Dublin heard four weeks of evidence from 10 witnesses, including Mr Adams and reporter Jennifer O’Leary.<\/p>\n The programme was seen by an estimated 16,000 viewers in the Republic of Ireland.<\/p>\n Mr Adams was a TD (member of the Irish parliament) for Louth at the time it was broadcast.<\/p>\n The judge presiding over the case, Mr Justice Alexander Owens, completed his recap of the evidence of all witnesses on Wednesday.<\/p>\n The judge told the jurors that if they award damages to Mr Adams, they should base it on his recent and current reputation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n BBC News NI crime and justice correspondent<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The legal bill for Gerry Adams versus the BBC is to believed to be between \u20ac3-5 million (\u00a32.5-4.2m), according to sources with knowledge of the case.<\/p>\n It is understood to be have been one of the most expensive cases the corporation has ever fought.<\/p>\n There was a trial lasting five weeks at the High Court in Dublin, involving four senior counsel, two on each side.<\/p>\n Three rows of benches in court 24 were at times occupied by up to 14 barristers and solicitors.<\/p>\n One of those acting for the BBC, Paul Gallagher, is a former Irish Attorney General and reportedly one of the country’s highest paid barristers.<\/p>\n There has not only been a lengthy trial, but a number of preliminary court hearings.<\/p>\n Jury trials are usually longer \u2013 and therefore more expensive \u2013 than those held in front of a judge acting alone.<\/p>\n Ireland is in the process of overhauling its defamation laws, including the elimination of jury trials in High Court defamation cases.<\/p>\n In Northern Ireland, there has been “a presumption against jury trials” in libel cases since 2022.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![](\"https:\/\/static.files.bbci.co.uk\/bbcdotcom\/web\/20250529-103858-de9d27ef1-web-2.22.3-1\/grey-placeholder.png\")
![\"PA](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/fe87\/live\/97581a80-2b35-11f0-b292-fd6559a197f5.jpg.webp\")
PA Media<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n‘One of the most expensive cases’<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n