BBC accused of a news blackout as Gerry Adams sues it for defamation
AN MP has accused the BBC of creating a ‘news blackout’ by failing to report that it is being sued by Gerry Adams for defamation.
The former leader of Sinn Fein has launched legal proceedings in the High Court in Dublin after the BBC broadcast allegations he had sanctioned the killing of ex-Sinn Fein official and double agent Denis Donaldson.
The allegations were made by an anonymous source in a 2016 Spotlight documentary. Mr Adams has always denied having any involvement in Mr Donaldson’s death.
Donaldson was shot dead in 2006 in his cottage in Co Donegal.
DUP MP Ian Paisley Jr has questioned why the BBC has not once reported the case, or the pre-trial motion hearing in December, while Irish publications have covered it.
In a letter last week to Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries, Mr Paisley also questioned the BBC’s use of licence-fee money to fund the case, and warned the broadcaster against using taxpayer funds to settle it.
The MP told The Mail on Sunday: ‘It would be shameful if they were to settle the case and licencefee money were to exchange hands to Gerry Adams.’
The BBC has also received complaints from a member of the public over its lack of coverage of proceedings.
Irish papers first reported the case in February 2020, and covered the pre-trial hearing in December, in which the BBC sought materials from Mr Adams which it claims are relevant to its defence.
In a response to the complaint, seen by this newspaper, the broadcaster said: ‘The court case hasn’t started yet and no date has been set. When the case gets under way, we will of course be reporting on it.’
The member of the public, who has now escalated the complaint to the BBC’s executive complaints unit, said: ‘The licencefee-payers in the UK have the right to know that a senior member of a political party is currently embroiled in a legal dispute with the national broadcaster.
‘Licence-fee-payers have a right to know what their money is being spent on.’
Mr Paisley’s letter to Ms Dorries, seen by this newspaper, said: ‘The state broadcaster is currently engaged in what can only be described as a news blackout and editorial cover-up about a story involving themselves and Gerry Adams, the former leader of Sinn Fein.’
He adds: ‘One would have thought a case so significant, and one I hope that the BBC does not lose or throw in the towel on, is worthy of not only mention, but significant campaigning journalism. But silence is all we have.’
The BBC has denied defamation and claimed its programme was put out in good faith and during discussion on a subject of public interest.
The BBC declined to comment when approached by The Mail on Sunday.