Gerry Kelly, the Old Bailey IRA bomber turned Sinn Féin minister in Northern Ireland, has won his libel action against Sir Tony O’Reilly’s, the Sunday World newspaper in Ireland.
The tabloid claimed that he had been the Provisional IRA’s chief of staff and had conducted an affair with Martha Pope, Senator George Mitchell’s senior aide who was also close to President Bill Clinton .
Mitchell and Pope had been sent by Clinton to Northern Ireland to help progress the peace process.Pope played a major behind the scene role.
However, Pope and Mitchell’s credibility was deeply damaged by newspaper reports in 1996 alleging an affair between her and Gerry Kelly a top level Republican, with a long IRA history who was also a Sinn Fein negotiator.
The allegations came to a head at a Democratic Unionist conference, when Reverend Ian Paisley created a sensation by declaring that "people in Senator Mitchell's office are not to be trusted for they're friends of leading members of the IRA".
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It is now believed that Pope and Kelly, who had actually never met, were victims of a British intelligence ‘dirty tricks’ effort to undermine the peace process.
Next day, two newspapers published headlines including "Dangerous Liaison", and "Sex Scandal Perils Peace Talks".
The stories claimed that M15 had warned both then British Prime Minister, John Major and President Clinton of the "close friendship", and its impact on the process.
Martha Pope promptly sued both newspapers for libel and within days received apologies and libel costs of pounds $300,000
Speaking to the BBC after the ruling was announced Kelly said the case should have been dealt with sooner.
He said “This case could have been settled 15 years ago with a simple apology from the Sunday World but they consistently fought to keep the case from going to court…I felt I should pursue the case in order to combat the view in some elements of the media that republicans, and particularly ex-prisoners are fair game and easy targets."
Oisin Quinn, the lawyer representing the paper read out the apology. According to reports in the Guardian the newspaper “acknowledges that both articles were wrong" and "apologizes to Gerry Kelly for the upset the articles caused".
They added that they accept “that Mr Kelly had played an important part in ending the violence in Northern Ireland and made a positive and significant contribution to the peace process."
The Sunday World apologized to the minister over false allegation made against him 15 years ago. The Minister who was in court to hear the results also received an undisclosed sum of money.
Kelly sued the newspaper after they claimed he was the chief of the staff for the IRA in 1996. The newspaper also falsely claimed that he was romantically involved with Martha Pope, an American diplomat.
The first article, from February 25th, 1996 stated that Kelly was in the IRA. The second from December 1st, 1996 claimed Kelly was involved with Pope, who worked with US President Bill Clinton and Senator Mitchell.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.maryanna | Nov 16, 2011, 01:10 PM EST
How much more truth do you want to hear Seano.Those who brought murder to the table no matter who it was, it was all wrong.The dictators running this country Northern Ireland are blood hounds. They got away with the most heinous crimes and now are being paid to keep the peace - stop the killing and bombing - this is not about a cause it was a dirty little grubby war - it was all about power jobs control over the most vulnerable. Look at the names of young people murdered blown up for what -greed power and control. They failed what they try to achieve. I wish government bodies paid the pigs 40 years at least we could have saved 0ver 3,700 human beings. These are real people and if the law don't get them- the hot house will be waiting for the ruthless evil killers of souls .
DanOLoingsigh | Nov 15, 2011, 07:26 PM EST
Seano - I really thought long and hard about joining you in the gutter, and naming young victims of the troubles. I was hoping someone else would challenge you on this, as I fail to see what point you are trying to make here. I feel somewhat ashamed to be ‘playing your game’, my only defence is that letting your pathetic little postings go unchallenged may lead some to believe there is some merit in your arguments. So with profound apologies for any distress caused, here are some more victims of your so-called heroes - John Pedlow (17) Protestant, John Pedlow (17), Gordon Gallagher (9), Paul Crummey (4), Terence Herdman (17), David Walker (16), Bernard Teggart (15), Kathleen Feeney (14), Brendan Quinn (17), Paul Reid (17), Lee Houghton (5), Robert Houghton (2), Michael McCreesh (15), Gerard Craig (17), John Beattie (17), John Hunter (17), Michael Meenan (16), Joseph Taylor (17), John Bailey (17), Jane Davis (17), Heather Thompson (17), John McDaid (16), Patrick Toner (7), Edward Wilson (16), Siobhan McCabe (4), Robert Lloyd (0), Grace Loohuis (0), Eileen Kelly (6), Columba McVeigh (17)
maryanna | Nov 15, 2011, 06:19 PM EST
You are so in denial of the truth -that i feel sorry for you. Google The Troubles! - I am aware and lived in it." Lost lives"Those who murdered must take responsibility for their planned actions. The stories of men, women and children who died as a result of the Northern Ireland troubles.
seanomelbourne | Nov 15, 2011, 05:24 PM EST
The list Dan lynch used covered the first 3 years of the troubles he "forgot" to tell you maryanna that list coverd 25 killed by republicans and over forty killed by british terrorist.150 children died during the period 1969 to 1998(GFA)the vast magority murdered by your loyalist pals and the British army.Dans figures are so rubbery they bounce off the page and maryann is so anti Irish she must have hate tattooed on her forehead I'm done talking to you morons.
maryanna | Nov 14, 2011, 03:55 PM EST
3.3.1 Perpetrators of killings of those under 18 In the case of the under I 8s, the IRA are responsible for the largest number of deaths, followed by the British Army, but the variation in the scale of difference in the two age groups is not quite as marked. In the under 25 age group, the IRA were responsible for by far the largest number of killings and the difference between them and the next largest - the British Army -was quite marked (610 to 182)
maryanna | Nov 14, 2011, 03:29 PM EST
Responsibility Between 1969 and 2001, 3,526 people were killed as a result of the Troubles.[125] Approximately 60% of the dead were killed by republicans, 30% by loyalists and 10% by British security forces. Responsibility for killing[126] Responsible party No. Republican paramilitary groups 2057 Loyalist paramilitary groups 1019 British security forces 363 Persons unknown 82 Irish security forces 5 Total 3526
maryanna | Nov 14, 2011, 03:12 PM EST
@ Dan - many thanks for your honesty, we must never forget all loved ones who were murdered injured it was all wrong! Murdered by IRA Pasty Gillespie- Seamus Browne - David Caldwell - Kathleen Feeney - John Dunne Frank Hegarty list is endless By the book lost lives.
DanOLoingsigh | Nov 14, 2011, 02:17 PM EST
seanomelbourne's grubby little posts invite a response...so here are a few of the young victims of his so-called republican so-called heroes (ages in brackets) -Bernadette McCool (9), Carol Ann McCool (4), John McCaig (17), Angela Gallagher(1), Gerard O'Hare (17), Vivian Gibney (17), Tracey Munn (2), Colin Nicholl (0) Anthony Lewis (16), Patrick Campbell (16), Charles McCrystal (17), Samuel Hughes (17), John McErlean (17), Rosaleen Gavin (8), Harold Morris (15), Joseph Fitzsimmons (17), John McIlhone (17), Geraldine McMahon (17), Joan Scott (12), Alan Jack (0), William Crothers (15), Stephen Parker (14), Kathryn Eakin (8), Joseph Connolly (15), William Temple (16), Joseph McKinney (17)
seanomelbourne | Nov 13, 2011, 05:38 PM EST
post pulled again
seanomelbourne | Nov 13, 2011, 05:38 PM EST
Where's your ten names maryanna why muddy the waters.Lost for facts maybe.
maryanna | Nov 13, 2011, 04:15 PM EST
Additional estimated statistics on the conflict.[131] Incident No. Injury 47,541 Shooting 36,923 Armed robbery 22,539 People charged with paramilitary offences 19,605 Bombing and attempted bombing 16,209 Arson 2,225[citation needed]
maryanna | Nov 13, 2011, 03:40 PM EST
Sean - you know and all the world knows that the IRA killed far more Catholics than anyone else - men,women and children - others killed as well and I condemn all of them - but to suggest the IRA where protectors of Catholics is a myth they killed less than 3 dozen Loyalist but many more Catholics to ensure that they kept control of nationalist areas.
seanomelbourne | Nov 12, 2011, 07:41 PM EST
I'll start the ball rolling with ten children murdered by your brave pals.Magella O'hare,Julie Livingstone,John Dougal,Annette Mcgavin,Stephen Geddes,Mick Mccartan,Katrina Rennie,Geraldine McKeown,Mick Scott,Frank Rowantree.Read them and weep you lowlife.
seanomelbourne | Nov 12, 2011, 07:37 PM EST
Maryanna,s lying diatribe is a testament to the dirty grubby propaganda war conducted by her terrorist pals.150 children(17yrs.or younger) were killed by British army terrorist or there murdering unionist cohorts.You name the eighty children allegedly killed by republicans or bury youself in your on lies.
maryanna | Nov 12, 2011, 07:18 PM EST
What i believe is that everyone is making money out of the troubles -the war is big business! Sinners in for a penny in for a pound Greedy people are needy people, the more they have the more they want. What i feel is that anyone who planned murders during the troubles blown people to pieces murdered informers now these killers must be taken up for war crimes!
PhlutiePhan | Nov 12, 2011, 10:04 AM EST
Gerry Kelly is not exactly a clone of St. Patrick. He is dirty and sleazy as is the reputation of the Clinton crowd. It would be very logical to assume that "sleeping with the enecy" is a very viable "term of endearment" to solve diplomatic difficulties.
maryanna | Nov 12, 2011, 08:05 AM EST
Now that this dirty grubby little war is over NI -time for families to take those evil murders and injured victims up for claims,why not, war is big business. As a result many families are left to suffer in silence PTSD- it looks like there will never be any prosecutions for the families of lost loved ones. Those who have suffered and still are in pain at the hands of the so called freedom fighters, who have failed in their fight for an united Ireland. They have failed a lost cause.Many victims have been kneecapped - intimidated out of there homes, by the very same people who wanted power and control over communities! Women were tarred and feathered what for? Guns put to our families heads for what petrol! Cars taken, families burned out of their homes for what. Young people who have been beat into submission for what? These organisations are now established and working for government bodies -644 civilians murdered by republications paramilitary groups the IRA-80 children killed by these so called freedom fighters,total murdered by these republications- 2057 shameful and disgraceful!Loyalist paramilitary groups murdered 1019 people shameful and disgraceful. British security forces murdered 363 people shameful and disgraceful. Persons unknown - murdered 82 people. shameful and disgraceful. Irish security forces murdered 5 people shameful and disgraceful. "This must never be allowed to happen again"Over 3526 murdered as a result of the past troubles and 47000 injured - The (GODFATHERS) must cough up!
borefield | Nov 11, 2011, 07:00 PM EST
Super survivor77 really needs prayers or something or someone to help him carry that huge burden of HATE. He is really ok posessed. Poor jerk
seanomelbourne | Nov 11, 2011, 04:45 PM EST
O'Reilly sold out Erin Foods many years ago to Heinz.He was well known for his sloppy journalism when he owned some major newspapers in Australia.Some years ago at a meeting of an Irish organisation in Sydney he advised the organisation to adopt Margaret Thatcher as "person of the year",a true west brit
sirpeter | Nov 11, 2011, 02:22 PM EST
"Victims of a British intelligence ‘dirty tricks’ effort to undermine the peace process.WOW!! I'm shocked!! You mean the British wanted to try and destroy the peace process.Gee!! And here I'm always been told it's the RIRA who are the only ones who don't want peace in Ireland. *Rolls eyes
Ernesider | Nov 11, 2011, 02:00 PM EST
Ever day more and more it is becoming obvious that Sinn Fein are the party that will bring decency back to our beloved Ireland.
redhand32 | Nov 11, 2011, 01:01 PM EST
It's a tall order to outsleaze the Murdochs in the journalism business. But, I think the Sunday World may have pulled it off on this one !
cillowen | Nov 11, 2011, 12:28 PM EST
aided and abetted with irish quislings how could they be so wrong. Those precious knightings so yearned for, by the natives turns 'em away from that St Patrick sway.
UKIreland | Nov 11, 2011, 11:49 AM EST
Wow, first time I heard about this story. The incompetence of British "Intelligence" revealed by this story is incredible. What a bunch of clowns.
cillowen | Nov 11, 2011, 09:44 AM EST
"Sir" Tony O'Reilly - a foul mouthed weasel whom I met. Complete Anglo a-hole.
GraydonWilson | Nov 11, 2011, 09:37 AM EST
"It is now believed that Pope and Kelly, who had actually never met, were victims of a British intelligence ‘dirty tricks’ effort to undermine the peace process." Yep. Nothing new here.
ReturnedYank | Nov 11, 2011, 09:36 AM EST
"Sir" Tony O'Reilly but no "Mr" Gerry Kelly? Tut, tut, Irish Central.
donal1951 | Nov 11, 2011, 09:34 AM EST
This was shoddy journalism at its worst. If the story was simply made up to sell papers it was bad enough, but a newspaper, in its news stories, should never be a tool of a government agency. This applies to the US press as well.
IronMountainMovies | Nov 11, 2011, 09:31 AM EST
Of course they knew the truth all along but were much happier to peddle the lie for their taskmaster Sir Tony. Never let the truth get in the way of a good story. It now turns out the ones who can't be trusted are the journalists who wrote the story, and what will the National Union of Journalists do? Nothing. Says all that needs to be said about the media and the hacks who have been bought by the establishment. Is it any wonder they have long ago lost the trust and the readership of the people?