Gerry Adams' defamation case against the BBC fixed for April hearing

High Court Reporters

Former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams' defamation action against the BBC is to go ahead in April, the High Court has heard.

Mr Adams (76) claims the BBC falsely alleged he sanctioned the killing of former Sinn Féin official Denis Donaldson, who worked for decades as a spy for the British, in Glenties, Co Donegal in 2006.

The case, which is to take place on April 29th, 2025, in the Four Courts in Dublin, centres on a 2016 BBC Spotlight programme in which Mr Adams claims the allegation was made and on an article on the BBC webpage.

The BBC denies defamation and claims the programme and publication were put out in good faith and during the course of discussion on a subject of public and vital interest.

The BBC says the programme constituted responsible journalism that was the result of careful investigation.

At the High Court on Thursday, Mr Justice Alexander Owens said the case was specially fixed for April 29th 2025, and the court heard that it was ready to go on. The case is expected to last up to three weeks.

In October, Hugh McDowell BL, representing the BBC, told the court that a number of witnesses would be involved in the case and some would have to travel from overseas.

The case had been delayed by hearings on preliminary issues and discovery of documents.

In July 2020, following a hearing on preliminary issues, Mr Justice Charles Meenan directed the BBC to make discovery of the various categories of documents Mr Adams claimed he needed for his case.

A separate application by Mr Adams seeking an order that the BBC provide further and better particulars of all material facts in support of the allegations was refused by the judge. The BBC said these matters would be dealt with as part of the evidence in the case.

In March 2022, the High Court dismissed a bid by Mr Adams to strike out parts of the BBC's defence against his defamation action.