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)

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

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.

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

Decision not to prosecute Gerry Adams to be reviewed

Gerry Adams

The decision not to prosecute Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams over allegations he covered up for his sex abusing brother Liam is to be reviewed.

Northern Ireland’s Attorney General John Larkin has been asked by the country’s Director of Public Prosecutions to examine what the Louth TD told police about Liam Adams and when.

Liam, who lived for a time in Dundalk, will be sentenced next month in Belfast after being convicted of sexually abusing his daughter Áine during a six year period in the 1970s.

Evidence in court revealed that Gerry Adams first confronted his brother over the alleged abuse of Áine in 1987.

He told Liam Adams’ first trial that his brother had confessed to him in Dundalk in 2000 but he did not reveal this to police until nine years later in 2009.

While he admitted he could have acted differently with the benefit of hindsight, Gerry Adams insists that he co-operated fully with the PSNI and lawyers.

Adams claims “disinformation” exists over his knowledge of brother’s activities

The front page of yesterday’s Belfast Telegraph, which attacked Gerry Adams

Sinn Féin president and Louth TD Gerry Adams has claimed there is a “lot of disinformation” surrounding any knowledge he had of sexual abuse allegations relating to his brother Liam Adams.

Liam, who used to reside in Dundalk, was earlier this week convicted of sexually abusing his daughter Áine when she was aged between four and nine. He will be sentenced next month.

Ms Adams had told the court that in 1987 she travelled to Buncrana with her mother, Gerry Adams and a driver. She said her uncle confronted her father there about the claims but that he denied them.

Asked why he did not report the claims at that point, the Louth TD said the police “were aware over 20 years ago and there is a lot of disinformation being flung about on the issue.”

Mr Adams previously said his brother admitted in Dundalk in 2000 that he had sexually abused his daughter but it was not until 2009 when he went to the PSNI.

When asked yesterday why he did not inform child-protection authorities after his brother got a job working with children in Co Louth in 2003, Mr Adams said he had answered all those questions in a number of interviews.

The Sinn Féin leader, whose constituency office is based in Crowe Street, has come under fire in the wake of his brother’s conviction with yesterday’s Belfast Telegraph leading with a front page that described him “Unfit for office.”

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• Liam Adams found guilty of raping his daughter (talkofthetown.ie)