Politicians respond to Gerry Adams' libel victory

Politicians have been reacting to Gerry Adams' libel victory over the BBC.

The former Sinn Féin leader has won €100,000 (£84,000) in damages over a BBC story about the murder of a British agent.

A court found Mr Adams was defamed in a BBC NI Spotlight programme broadcast in 2016 and an accompanying online article, in which an anonymous contributor alleged he sanctioned the 2006 murder of Denis Donaldson.

Mr Adams, 76, denies any involvement.

He said taking the case "was about putting manners on the British Broadcasting Corporation".

The trial at the High Court in Dublin heard four weeks of evidence from 10 witnesses, including Mr Adams and BBC NI reporter Jennifer O'Leary.

Adam Smyth, director of BBC NI, said its legal team had warned the jury's decision in the high-profile case could "hinder freedom of expression".

• LIVE: Ex-Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams awarded €100,000 in libel case against BBC

Sinn Féin TD (member of the Irish parliament) Matt Carthy described Mr Adams as "a legend".

"For years some journalists and the political establishment have felt that they could lie about Irish Republicans and rewrite the history of conflict in Ireland," he said.

"Once again, today, they got their answer."

Democratic Unionist Party leader Gavin Robinson said his thoughts were "with the innocent victims who suffered at the hands of the IRA".

"While journalists must always be able to scrutinise and investigate in the public interest, the BBC have significant questions to answer," the Belfast East MP said.

"How have they found themselves in a situation where allegations were insufficiently evidenced with the consequence that license payers' money will be now be spent on both damages and reputed legal costs running into many millions":[]}