A television producer denied deceiving Channel 4 about the credibility of a source who alleged collusion between security forces and loyalist terrorists in the London High Court yesterday.
The accusation was made in exchanges between counsel for the Sunday Times and TV producer Mr Sean McPhilemy who is suing the newspaper for libel.
The newspaper alleged in an article in May 1993 that a programme alleging collusion, made by Mr McPhilemy, was a hoax. The Sunday Times is standing over the claim and pleading justification.
The source in question was the loyalist Mr James Sands, who gave interviews to programme researchers in April 1991.
Yesterday, Mr Andrew Caldecott QC, for the Sunday Times, put it to Mr McPhilemy: "I'm accusing you of deceiving Channel 4 of Sands's credibility over the Cappagh murders." Mr McPhilemy said he did not agree that there were serious inconsistencies in Mr Sands's interviews.