Gerry Adams fails in bid to strike out part of BBC defence

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Gerry Adams failed to have parts of the BBC’s defence struck out in his High Court defamation action. Ms Justice Emily Egan ruled on 11 March 2022 that aspects of the defence should go before the jury hearing the case.

Adams claims the BBC falsely alleged that he sanctioned the 2006 killing of Denis Donaldson. The action concerns a 2016 BBC Spotlight programme and a follow-up website article. Adams denies involvement in Donaldson’s death; the BBC denies defamation.

In a separate pre-trial motion, the court ruled that the BBC was entitled to discovery of material Adams may hold concerning his alleged relationship with the IRA, including alleged membership and Army Council documents. It dismissed the BBC’s request for material about a statement allegedly made at a 1987 press conference.

The judge said the relevance of the second category was less apparent, that producing such material would be burdensome if it existed, and that an order for its discovery would not be proportionate.