High Court dismisses Gerry Adams' bid to strike out parts of BBC's defamation defence

Gerry Adams is suing the BBC claiming it defamed him when, he claims, it falsely alleged he sanctioned the killing of former Sinn Féin official Denis Donaldson

Former Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams denies any suggestion that he had anything to do with Mr Donaldson's death. File photo

The High Court has dismissed a bid by former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams to strike out parts of the BBC's defence against his defamation action against the UK broadcaster over its reporting of the murder of Denis Donaldson.

In a separate pre-trial motion relating to his claim, the High Court also ruled that the BBC was entitled to the discovery of one category of materials and documents he may have regarding his alleged relationship with the IRA, including documents evidencing his alleged membership of the IRA and the IRA's army council.