The BBC Spotlight reporter who made the programme which alleged former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams sanctioned a spy’s murder has rejected a claim it was “reckless” journalism.
Jennifer O’Leary was speaking as she completed giving her evidence at a libel trial at the High Court in Dublin.
Mr Adams, 76, is suing the BBC over a 2016 programme about the killing of Denis Donaldson and an accompanying online article.
Ms O’Leary was cross-examined by his barrister, Tom Hogan SC, on Thursday morning.
Journalism ‘done in good faith’
He claimed she ran the story as she had “ticked all the boxes”, including incorporating Mr Adams’ denial, but did not stand over the truthfulness of the allegation.
It was made by an anonymous source, Martin, an informer in the IRA, who featured in the programme.
“The journalism was done in good faith,” Ms O’Leary said.
“It wasn’t an allegation made by me. It wasn’t treated recklessly.”
She “absolutely refuted” Mr Hogan’s assertion she had “no regard” if the allegation were true or false.
Ms O’Leary also stated she did not have “carte blanche” to say what she wanted about the former Sinn Féin leader on the basis he normally does not take legal action.
Mr Hogan described the sources who corroborated Martin’s claim as “disaffected” republicans and “indiscreet” security people.
Ms O’Leary responded: “No, that is a wrong representation of the credible sources I spoke to.
“I wasn’t going to any Tom, Dick or Harry to check the journalism.”
She accepted that while she had five additional sources around the allegation, it was not mentioned in the broadcast as “it ran the risk of being unfair to Mr Adams”.
Her source Martin had to be anonymous as the IRA was trying to identify informers at the time, she added.
The deputy editor of Spotlight at the time of the broadcast, Gwyneth Jones, was then called as the BBC’s second witness.
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