Defamation Cases - does the jury decide the amount of award, or is it the judge?

I think that French libel laws allow a token symbolic award plus costs

That would be more reasonable

The case was taken in the RoI?

Even though the BBC is from the UK?

 most pliable jurors

That's a slur worthy of those who cannot accept that they were wrong.

Not totally true. A distant relation of mine was in court and accused of horrendous acts. It was an open and shut historic case. She very foolishly kept silent. Afterwards the accuser recanted, the support witness was a schizophrenic. The DPP was dismissed. She went to town on all the 4 big papers and settled out of court. I never heard the settlement. If you print something you must have proof.

I haven't 'backed' any person or donkey here.

No need to lose your dignity or credibility and lash out like that. It's just a court case. The Beeb will get over it and learn a bit.

Its a pity there are so many sources that contradict those finding ….. British intelligence, Irish Intelligence, PSNI, Gardai, CIA and FBI. I wonder if Wikileaks had files on him? John Crawley comes very close to naming "Familiar Face" a FRU deep cover agent. "Familiar Face" shopped John Crawley and his team coming back from United States with a load of rifles and possibly support weapons. John Crawley in his book says he wanted to standardise training from his background in Marine Corps Recon. He said the political element viewed volunteers as disposable commodities. When the Irish Naval Service interdicted him and his team, FBI, British and Irish intelligence were onboard and they had the whole story. Much like Haughey, Blaney and Coronel O'Connell, British intelligence knew all about everything and were waiting to intercept them.

I do accept reputations vary and most people get their opinions from the media.

I am not sure I am your version of "normal". I tend to listen to what people say they are going to do and watch the deliverables. Such as Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness meeting the Irish government to talk about a cease fire and then the next week the great Northern Bank robbery happens. IRA is on ceasefire one week and the Canary Warf bombings happen the next.

It would be silly to ignore statements of Delours Price and Brendan Hughes that convinced them that he sold out republicans. What did they experience that they thought needed to be known that was more important than their Oath of Secrecy to Republican Movement. Why do the code names "Familiar Face", "Fisherman" and "Stakeknife" keep being circulated? I am very sorry to say I will not be alive nor will it matter 50 years from now when that information will be released.

I feel I cannot judge Gerry Adams, wholesomely on his decisions because I am not the same age and did not grow up either on the border or north of the border and I did not know his choices. I can safely tell you I would brick myself if a British agent sat me down for an interrogation and place a file in front of me and told me "I can turn your and everyone elses around your world upside down". Apparts from the States in the English speaking world there wasnt very far to go where they wouldnt have reach.

How would you explain my "bitterness" to Jean McConvilles family?

My problem is not with jury……. its with the amount of evidence presented over 50 years. Its the same as asking me do I accept that David Thrimble was also involved on the ground of stirring up sectarian violence or did John Phoenix play outside the rules of engagement? I am sure they both did. Why is it so hard to admit Gerry Adams was either Chief of Staff or Deputy of the PIRA?

I am suggesting Adams called in the FRU to fix it.

I am not slandering the jury, I am suggesting that something swayed the jury based on the mountain of evidence.

Before I am accused of being a shill of the British government. I recognise all sides in a conflict do **** things even seemingly benign people like Mo Mowlam.

You seem to think that Gerry Adams was in the Boy scouts and never coloured outside the lines in his life. He never said one thing and did another. He never took assistance from the Politburo. He never traded operator in to save his own skin. That is all based on evidence.

I had a think about it. I suppose you are right. To find out that Gerry Adams may have some nasty things as the Chief of Staff/Deputy of the IRA army council, might be quite devastating for some people. I also want to offer my own story that I too was personally devastated to find out that not did Santa Claus may not exist but Easter Bunny and Toothfairy …… may or may not be real either.

I do understand McConvilles grief and need for closure. It will continue on for at least another generation. I do hope they get it. It is very difficult taking on an Agent of the state. We have no idea how far up it went past Adams. Everyone is nearly dead now. I am sure there is a file in Whitehall (and Dublin Castle) about it. As a former First Minister he probably has bottomless pockets against a common man. Its an impossible that even though everyone knows what happened.

Sorry President of Sinn Fein. how about you comment on some of the FRU stuff and speculate who on the Army council might be PSNI/Army intelligence/ MI5 assets?