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)

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)

Liam Adams found guilty of raping his daughter

Liam Adams

Liam Adams, the brother of local Sinn Féin TD Gerry Adams, has been convicted of raping and abusing his daughter.

Adams, 58, from Bernagh Drive in Belfast, was found guilty yesterday of ten offences, including rape and gross indecency, against his daughter, Áine Adams.

The abuse was committed over a six-year period between 1977 and 1983, when she was aged between four and nine.

Liam, who worked for a time in Dundalk, had consistently denied the charges throughout the two-week trial.

However, a jury of nine men and three women convicted him on all charges, with a majority verdict of 11 to one returned after four hours of deliberation.

During the trial the court was told how Gerry Adams had accompanied his niece and her month to Buncrana in Co Donegal to confront Liam Adams about the allegations.

She was just 13 but although she made a complaint to police in 1987, she did not pursue it until 2007 when Liam Adams was arrested.

Gerry Adams had claimed that Liam had confessed to him of one incident of sexual abuse of his daughter Áine, during a meeting between the pair in Dundalk in 2000. It was 2009, however, before he told police of his brother’s confession.

Liam Adams was remanded in custody following the verdict and it is expected that he will be sentenced in four weeks’ time.

Reacting to the verdict, Gerry Adams said the trial has been “a distressing ordeal” for all of his family and for his niece Áine.

He said the family now requested the media to respect their right to space and privacy. He also thanked “the many people who have sent messages of support and solidarity.”