Taoiseach challenges Adams on his alleged IRA past

Taoiseach Enda Kenny yesterday challenged Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams to say if he was a member of the IRA during heated exchanges in the Dáil.

Enda Kenny said that if the Louth TD wanted to have a debate about the past as he had suggested then he should start by clarifying for everyone whether he was a member of the IRA.

Deputy Adams has always claimed he was never a member of the IRA but the Taoiseach said: “No one believes him.”

The exchanges came after Adams had said he was happy to discuss the past.

“We can arrange that at any time, any place where you are prepared to have it with me,” he said. “And we will examine the role of your party, historically . . . we will examine the role of leaders of your party, historically, as well as my role and the role of anybody else involved in Irish republicanism.’’

The exchange came after Deputy Adams had been discussing the top up of salaries of health officials following the recent Central Remedial Clinic story.

Adams accused the Taoiseach of using his alleged past to dodge questions relating to salary top-ups.

Adams hits back at coverage of his brother’s sex abuse case

Liam Adams was sentenced to 16 years in jail last month

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams has hit out at “inaccurate, misleading and offensive” coverage of his handling of the sex abuse of his niece by his paedophile brother.

In a letter to the Belfast Telegraph, the Sinn Fein president accused journalists, political commentators and rival politicians of using a “family tragedy” to attack him.

Mr Adams said they had “misrepresented and twisted the facts to suit their own narrow agendas”.

Liam Adams (58) was last month sentenced to 16 years for the rape of his daughter Aine when she was aged between four and nine.

Gerry Adams has faced extensive criticism over his handling of his brother Liam’s paedophilia.

He wrote to The Belfast Telepraph newspaper to hit out at a piece written by commentator Alex Kane on Eilis McDermott QC, Liam Adams’ defence barrister.

The profile, which appeared in the Belfast Telegraph last month, referred to Ms McDermott’s cross-examination of Mr Adams when he appeared as a prosecution witness in the initial trial of his brother.

“These quotes include claims that I was “decisively pinned down” and an implication that I engaged in “waffle about the peace process” and “phony sentiment” and further that the trial witnessed “the unraveling of Gerry Adams”,” the Sinn Fein president wrote.

“I completely reject these inaccurate, misleading and offensive statements.”

He adds: “I find it deeply offensive that a number of journalists, commentators and political opponents – Alex Kane, former director of communications for the UUP among them – have sought, in a most cynical manner, to use what has been a family tragedy to attack me.

“They have misrepresented and twisted the facts to suit their own narrow agendas, and have shown no concern for my wider family.

“At all times I sought to support the victim in this case. Liam Adams has been convicted and sentenced and Aine has been vindicated. That is what is important.

“Alex Kane’s sleveen effort to squeeze another newspaper article out of my family’s tragedy is inaccurate, offensive and pathetic.”

There were calls last month for Mr Adams to be prosecuted over the handling of his niece’s abuse.

“These quotes include claims that I was “decisively pinned down” and an implication that I engaged in “waffle about the peace process” and “phony sentiment” and further that the trial witnessed “the unraveling of Gerry Adams”.

“I completely reject these inaccurate, misleading and offensive statements.”

• Source: Gerry Adams says facts were twisted in abuse trial coverage (belfasttelegraph.co.uk)

Related articles

• Adams sentenced to 16 years in prison (talkofthetown.ie)

Adams called upon to withdraw comments on Smithwick Tribunal report

Gerry Adams

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has come under fire from politicians on both sides of the border for his comments on the report of the Smithwick Tribunal yesterday.

The Louth TD said that RUC officers Harry Breen and Bob Buchanan had taken a “laissez faire” attitude to their own safety, which has been reported in the media that they were to blame for their murders.

Justice Minister Alan Shatter yesterday described Mr Adams’ remarks as “nauseating”.

Speaking at a press conference in Farmleigh House in Dublin, Mr Shatter pointed to sections in the report relating to Mr Adams.

The Minister said Mr Adams had appeared at an event in Crossmaglen shortly after the double shooting when a man wearing a hood gave an explanation for the murders.

Mr Shatter said it was “very unlikely” Mr Adams did not know more about what happened to the two men.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin called for a full Dáil debate on the report and also criticised Mr Adams over his statement about the two murdered officers.

He said the statement should be withdrawn and it almost by implication blamed the officers themselves for their killing.

Mr Adams responded that his public statement reflected the views of the Smithwick report. He described the two RUC officers as brave men doing their duty as they saw it in the same way that the IRA did their duty as they saw it.

Chief superintendent Harry Breen and superintendent Bob Buchanan were shot dead on March 20th, 1989 near the Border in south Armagh shortly after a meeting with gardaí in Dundalk, Co Louth.

The Smithwick Tribunal report published yesterday found someone in Dundalk Garda station tipped off the IRA before they were killed.

In the interview on Newstalk radio Mr Adams said the officers failed to show due regard for their safety and added he was not aware of collusion involving gardai in IRA killings.

“If you read the evidence (to tribunal lawyers) by the former IRA volunteers and I say this with as much sensitivity as I can muster – these two very prominent RUC officers were sailing in and out of Dundalk Garda station, (and) were doing so in quite an open way,” Mr Adams said.

“The former IRA volunteers said that one of the officers was spotted coming from the station, that they then used a house overlooking the station to monitor comings and goings, that they were able to trace – I think there was also a pattern in terms of meetings.”

Mr Adams said: “When you have that type of laissez-faire disregard for their own security, by both An Garda Síochána in relation to these two officers, and more importantly these officers themselves – here they were in the heart of south Armagh in the middle of a very, very severe conflict at that time, and seemed to think that they were immune from attack by the IRA, and tragically as it turned out for them that was not the case.

“When you have that type of failure to protect the RUC operatives in the middle of a war then what happened happens.

“I’m sure the same thing has happened with IRA volunteers who were killed, that it was not necessarily intelligence or inside information but simply that they made a mistake. This has happened tragically in all conflicts.”

In the interview on Newstalk radio Mr Adams said he was not aware of collusion involving the Garda force in IRA killings.

Liam Adams to be sentenced today

Liam Adams

Liam Adams is due to be sentenced in Belfast today after being convicted of raping his eldest daughter.

Adams (58) of Bernagh Drive will be sentenced at Belfast Crown Court.

Last month Adams, the brother of Sinn Féin president and Louth TD Gerry, was convicted by majority verdicts of a total of 10 charges, including three of raping his now 40-year-old daughter Áine, three of gross indecency and four of indecently assaulting her when she was aged four and nine between March 1977 and March 1983. He denied the allegations.

At a previous pre-sentence hearing, the prosecution urged Judge Corinne Philpott to jail the father-of-six for least 15 years for raping and sexually abusing his eldest daughter Áine over 30 years ago.

At that hearing the court also heard that while the defence did not ‘take issue’ with the prosecution sentencing range, Adams, who still denies any wrong doing, is an unwell man, and is already being held under high security for his own protection.

The sentencing is due to take place this morning.

Related articles

• 15 year sentence suggested for Liam Adams (talkofthetown.ie)

15 year sentence suggested for Liam Adams

Liam Adams

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams’s sex abuser brother, who is being held in high-security custody in Northern Ireland amid concerns he is under threat, should be jailed for at least 15 years, a judge has been urged.

Liam Adams, 58, from west Belfast, was convicted last month of raping and sexually assaulting his daughter Aine Dahlstrom in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Crown lawyer Ciaran Murphy told judge Corinne Philpott today that guidelines indicated 15 years was an appropriate starting point for a sentence, before aggravating or mitigating factors were considered.

During a pre-sentence hearing at Belfast Crown Court, Mr Murphy insisted there were a number of aggravating features to Adams’s crimes that the judge should take into account, including the abuse of trust committed, the young age of his victim and the fact he repeatedly offended.

He also noted the dramatic and enduring impact on Ms Dahlstorm – who has waived her right to anonymity – which he said had been outlined in a “dignified” victim impact statement she had produced for the court.

“It has clearly disturbed Aine Dahlstrom throughout her life,” he said, as the victim looked on from the public gallery of the court.

But arguing for a lesser sentence, defence lawyer Eilis McDermott highlighted the health problems of her client.

Bespectacled Adams, who walks with the aid of a stick, watched impassively from the dock as his lawyer detailed his ongoing treatment for both inflammation of the arteries (temporal arteritis) and osteoarthritis.

The barrister also revealed that he was currently being held in maximum security due to his family associations.

“He is being held in the highest secure conditions in prison and that’s because of the family of which he is a member and it’s considered by the prison authorities that he might be under threat because of that particular circumstance,” she said.

Suggesting such measures would have to be taken throughout the length of whatever sentence was handed down, she claimed her client’s time in prison was set to be “even more onerous” than other prisoners.

After the potential aggravating and mitigating factors were presented by the lawyers, much of the remainder of the hearing was taken up with legal discussions between them and the judge on the possible restrictions that would be applied to Adams upon his eventual release.

At the conclusion, judge Philpott said she would reserve her sentencing decision to give her time to consider all the matters raised.

“I will deliver judgment as soon as I have made up my mind,” she said.

Related articles

• Liam Adams in court for sentencing hearing (irishtimes.com)
• Liam Adams found guilty of raping his daughter (talkofthetown.ie)

Adams not concerned by review of allegations against him

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams has claimed he is not concerned that his former lawyer ordered a review of allegations that he withheld information on his sex abuser brother.

Director of Public Prosecutions Barra McGrory QC called for the probe to be launched amid mounting criticism over what the Louth TD told police about Liam Adams, and when.

Liam Adams will be sentenced on November 5th in Belfast after being convicted of six years of rape attacks on his daughter Aine in the 1970s.

Gerry Adams confirmed yesterday that the current DPP was his solicitor in the past and accompanied him to one interview he gave to police in relation to his brother.

However, the Sinn Féin leader has insisted that he has done nothing wrong.

“I know I committed no offence and I know I did what I considered to be the right thing, and I co-operated fully with the PSNI, with the PPS, with the courts,” he said.

“I gave evidence in the courts. So I don’t have any concerns about that.

“Obviously, I’m concerned that as members of my family pick up the papers this morning and on the back of this press conference will pick up the newspaper tomorrow morning and wonder why there is such an inordinate attention on this and on me.

“So that’s my primary concern. My primary concern isn’t about me.”

Mr McGrory revealed on Monday that he had asked Northern Ireland’s Attorney General John Larkin to examine the case in light of the intense public interest.

The review is expected to last two weeks.

Asked if he was concerned about the Attorney General’s inquiry, Mr Adams said that he “generally goes with the flow”.

The Sinn Fein chief claimed that he is the victim of a political agenda on both sides of the Irish border and questioned whether Matt Baggot, Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, and Mr McGrory QC had been lobbied for an inquiry.

Mr Adams singled out Democratic Unionists and the main opposition party in the Irish Republic, Fianna Fail.

“I do take exception to the quite despicable lobbying that’s going on,” he said.

“I learned that the DUP, at least some of the DUP, and indeed some in Fianna Fail, are coming at this in a political way.

“So I totally and absolutely reject that. But I try to be measured in how I deal with all of this, to be sensible and reasonable.”

Mr Adams said the DPP ordered the inquiry because of the public interest.

“So if we find that the DUP are lobbying the chief constable, could the DUP be lobbying the Director of Public Prosecutions as well? I don’t know the answer to that question. But it’s a matter for the Attorney General and we’ll let him get on with it,” he said.

Mr Adams first heard in 1987 that his brother had abused his niece.

He was a witness in the first trial, which collapsed earlier this year. He told Belfast Crown Court he first confronted his brother when they met in Buncrana, Co Donegal, in 1987 and that Liam Adams had denied the abuse.

He then revealed that his brother later confessed while they were out walking together in the rain in Dundalk, Co Louth, in 2000.

It is understood he spoke to police about his niece’s allegations in 2007 and again in 2009.

Aine initially reported the abuse to police in 1987 but did not pursue a prosecution as she believed detectives were more concerned in gathering information on Gerry Adams and other members of their family.

Related articles

• Decision not to prosecute Gerry Adams to be reviewed (talkofthetown.ie)

Gerry Adams the most popular TD on Twitter

Louth TD Gerry Adams has more Twitter followers than any other member of the Dáil.

Research by Eamon Bell found that as of July 22^nd, the Sinn Féin president had 30,800 followers on the social media network – more than the other 146 TDs who also used the medium to communicate with the public.

While Deputy Adams’ political views are strong, he has used his Twitter to show his lighter side with many of his tweets focusing on his relationship with his teddy bear, his love of music and his escapades around the countryside. You can follow him at @GerryAdamsSF

Source: Eamon Bell

Adams denies involvement in McConville murder yet again

Gerry Adams in the Dáil yesterday

Sinn Féin leader and local TD Gerry Adams has once again denied any involvement in the disappearance and murder of Belfast woman Jean McConville in 1972.

Mr Adams accused Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin of “weasel words” and of trying to score party political points after he raised the issue in the Dáil yesterday.

Asking the Taoiseach about the Boston College tapes, Mr Martin urged Mr Adams to make a statement on the matter, as the book Voices from the Grave stated that he was involved in the disappearance.

Mr Martin said if similar accusations were made about any other member of the Dáil, there would be “clarion calls” for them to make a statement.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny said he had had words with Mr Adams about this issue before, adding that he was meeting families of The Disappeared that evening to discuss attempts to recover their bodies.

Responding, Mr Adams said the tapes were now in the hands of the PSNI and they will do with that what they want.

He said he had consistently rejected claims that he had knowledge of or involvement in the killing of Mrs McConville.

He said the current generation of republicans, in which he included himself, was trying to undo the wrong that was done, and that the IRA had apologised.

Mr Adams said the people who made the claims were “implacable opponents of the peace process” who thought the war should have continued, and who used these claims to attack him.

He once again urged anyone with any information about the whereabouts of remains of any of The Disappeared which have still not been recovered to come forward.

Source: RTÉ