SINN Fein accused the BBC of engaging in "scandalous tabloid journalism" after the station televised a documentary broadcasting the names of six party members that the programme alleged were members of the IRA's army council.
BBC Northern Ireland's Spotlight cited politicians, journalists, and security sources as its basis for naming the alleged IRA leaders. Sinn Fein said the six were considering taking legal action for defamation against the BBC.
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, the Sinn Fein chairman, said the BBC felt it was safe from legal action because the six named all had previous convictions for republican activities. The BBC was guilty of engaging in a "scandalous piece of tabloid journalism", he said.
The BBC defended the programme. "This kind of vigorous investigative journalism, for which Spotlight is renowned, is part of our public service function, a spokesman said.
