Full coverage: defamation

James Morrissey, Denis O'Brien's spokesman, has told a jury that a "fractious history” between republicans and INM was behind a 2016 media report commissioned by a Sinn Féin MEP and criticising the businessman.

Human rights solicitor Gavin Booth testified on Friday that businessman Denis O'Brien's comments on a 2016 report on Ireland's media landscape allegedly suggesting the lawyer was in the pay of the IRA were “way below the line”. 

From "kill all taigs" to bias, and Roy Greenslade's IRA sympathies, day two of lawyers Darragh Mackin and Gavin Booth's defamation suit against businessman Denis O'Brien covered a lot of ground.

Two Belfast human rights lawyers claim a press release issued by the businessman in response to a 2016 report they co-authored on Irish media owners wrongly implied they were in the pay of the IRA. Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan commissioned the report.

A vindicated and victorious Gerry Adams has said his nine-year defamation battle was about "putting manners" on the BBC. The jury found the broadcaster had not acted in good faith and awarded the former Sinn Féin leader €100,000.

Michael McDowell has told Gerry Adams's defamation trial that Adams cannot take sole credit for the Good Friday Agreement but should be recognised for realising the “futility” of trying to drive the British out of Northern Ireland by force.

After seven days, the former Sinn Féin president has finished testifying at his defamation trial against the BBC over claims in a 2016 Spotlight programme about the murder of IRA double agent Denis Donaldson.

The former Sinn Féin president's third day of cross-examination delved into his alleged reputation as an IRA leader, his approach to the media, and the victims of IRA violence including abducted mother-of-10 Jean McConville.

During his second day of cross examination, the former Sinn Féin president was grilled by BBC lawyers on IRA informers and the disappeared. He called Patrick Radden Keefe’s Say Nothing a book “written by a total opportunist”.

During cross examination at his defamation trial, Gerry Adams could not recall certain IRA atrocities including the death toll of Bloody Friday.