A High Court jury in London was yesterday urged to throw out the libel action brought by documentary film-maker Sean McPhilemy against the Sunday Times over an allegation that his TV programme about RUC-backed Ulster loyalist death squads was a hoax on the viewing public.
Even if the jurors found Mr McPhilemy was libelled, they should award him no more than "the smallest coin in the realm" in the light of his conduct in accusing innocent people of multiple murder, the newspaper's counsel, Mr Andrew Caldecott QC, said.
Mr McPhilemy's 1991 Channel 4 documentary about an Ulster Central Co-ordinating Committee of local businessmen, lawyers, politicians and police officers behind the murder of Catholics by Protestant paramilitaries had presented "unsubstantiated rumours and fabrications as the gospel truth", Mr Caldecott said. None of the four people on whose information the programme was based could be relied on.
Mr Caldecott, in his closing speech, told the jury in London the newspaper's "hoax" accusation against Mr McPhilemy paled into insignificance against the "nasty" allegations he had made about respectable people named as members of the committee.
The hearing was adjourned until tomorrow when Mr James Price QC, for Mr McPhilemy, will begin his closing speech. A verdict is expected early next week.