Jury in Gerry Adams' defamation case against BBC to continue deliberation on Friday

On Wednesday, judge said jury must decide whether the words complained of by Mr Adams in the programme and article say he 'gave the okay for', or sanctioned, the murder of Denis Donaldson

Gerry Adams claims a BBC Spotlight programme and a related article published in 2016 defamed him by falsely accusing him of sanctioning the killing of British agent Denis Donaldson at a cottage in Glenties, Co Donegal, in 2006. File picture

The jury in Gerry Adams’ defamation action against the BBC will return on Friday to continue their deliberations in the case.

The former Sinn Féin leader claims a BBC Spotlight programme and a related article published in 2016 defamed him by falsely accusing him of sanctioning the killing of British agent Denis Donaldson at a cottage in Glenties, Co Donegal, in 2006. He described the allegation as a “grievous smear”.