Full coverage: defamation

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.

IRA volunteers who obeyed the instructions of their leadership in 2005 that the armed conflict was "done and dusted" were now being told by the BBC “that was all a con”, the former Sinn Fein President told the High Court jury.

BBC Spotlight allegedly relied on a single anonymous source to claim the former Sinn Féin president sanctioned the death of IRA spy Denis Donaldson and should have come with a health warning, Adams's defamation trial hears.

CNN is seeking to pause the Irish proceedings and have the matter tried in the United States. The defamation suit relates to a story alleging the Trump White House influenced the awarding of a lease of mid-band spectrum to “Rivada”.

The businessman is suing the US network over a news story in October 2020 alleging the US Department of Defence came under pressure from the Trump White House to award a lease of mid-band spectrum to Rivada.

How did a lawyer from Belfast come to corner the market in international libel law? In this extract from his forthcoming book, From Holywood to Hollywood, Paul Tweed talks about the cases that helped make his name as the go-to lawyer for politicians, religious leaders and celebrities.