Gerry Adams, the former president of Sinn Féin, is currently embroiled in a defamation trial against the BBC, defending his past actions and statements regarding the Irish Republican Army (IRA) during the Troubles. The trial, taking place at the High Court in Dublin, has seen Adams assert that the IRA's violent campaign was a legitimate response to military occupation, while he also faces allegations regarding his involvement in the murder of Denis Donaldson, a former Sinn Féin official and alleged British agent.
On May 6, 2025, Adams returned to the witness stand for the fifth day of proceedings, where he was cross-examined by BBC barrister Paul Gallagher SC. The defamation case stems from a 2016 BBC Spotlight programme that claimed Adams sanctioned Donaldson's killing. Adams has consistently denied any involvement in the murder, which took place in 2006, months after Donaldson admitted to being a spy for British intelligence.
During his testimony, Adams stated, "I have never resiled from the view the IRA campaign was a legitimate response to military occupation. I'm not here in this stand resiling from that position." He emphasized that the IRA is no longer active, maintaining that his position on the conflict has remained consistent for over 50 years.
Adams was questioned about his knowledge of IRA membership and leadership during the Troubles, particularly regarding the West Belfast brigade in 1972. When asked directly if he knew who commanded the IRA at that time, he replied, "I'm not going to speculate…a number of people have acknowledged they were members." This refusal to name individuals led Gallagher to suggest that Adams was dodging the question, to which Adams responded, "You're asking me to go on a fishing expedition."
Gallagher also highlighted a book published under the pseudonym P. O'Neill, which mentioned a senior IRA officer being released from internment to participate in peace talks. Adams firmly denied that this referred to him, stating, "It wasn't me." He further asserted that he was released from internment without trial to attend peace talks in 1972 as a representative of Sinn Féin, not as a member of the IRA.
The trial featured a montage of past news clips and documentaries that included allegations against Adams, including claims that he was a long-time member of the IRA's army council and that he had authorized the murder of Jean McConville, a mother of ten who was killed and secretly buried by the IRA in 1972. In response to these allegations, Adams maintained that he was unaware of the practice of disappearing informers at the time, calling it "totally and absolutely wrong." He expressed that he had met with families of the disappeared, except for one case, and stated, "I wasn't conscious of the case then. I couldn't say why it happened, but it was totally wrong."
Adams also faced scrutiny over remarks he made in the past regarding informers. A 1987 video clip showed him stating, "Mr. McIlmurray, like anyone living in west Belfast, knows that the consequences for informing is death." When questioned about the harshness of his statement, Adams admitted it was "very harsh" but insisted it was made in the context of expressing condolences to the victim's family and appealing to informers to come forward. He denied that his words constituted a threat.
Throughout the trial, Adams has argued that the BBC's portrayal of him has been damaging to his reputation as a peacemaker. His barrister, Tom Hogan SC, stated that the allegations made in the Spotlight programme were an "unjustified attack" on Adams's character. The BBC, however, has denied defaming Adams, asserting that the programme was based on responsible journalism and public interest.
In addition to defending his past statements, Adams has also pushed back against suggestions that he was a senior IRA member. He stated, "Sinn Féin is an organization in its own right and never took instructions from the IRA." This assertion was met with skepticism from Gallagher, who pressed Adams on whether he was aware of the IRA's internal structures and rules. Adams repeatedly refused to speculate on the matter, stating, "I don’t intend to speculate on any of those issues in relation to the IRA."
As the trial continues, it is expected to last for four weeks, with Adams returning to the witness stand on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at 10:30 BST. The outcome of the case could have significant implications for Adams's legacy and the ongoing discourse surrounding the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
