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BBC told to ‘learn lessons’ from Gerry Adams libel loss

Former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams outside the High Court in Dublin after winning his libel case against the BBC (Brian Lawless/PA)
Former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams outside the High Court in Dublin after winning his libel case against the BBC (Brian Lawless/PA) (PA Wire)
  • Gerry Adams won a libel case against the BBC over a 2016 Spotlight programme that alleged he sanctioned the killing of Denis Donaldson.
  • A jury in Dublin awarded Adams 100,000 euro (£84,000), finding the BBC's actions were not in good faith and were unfair.
  • Adams stated the case was about "putting manners" on the BBC, claiming the corporation upheld the ethos of the British state in Ireland.
  • The BBC expressed disappointment with the outcome, warning it could hinder freedom of expression.
  • Sinn Fein minister John O’Dowd welcomed the judgment and urged BBC management to reflect on the outcome and avoid knee-jerk reactions.
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