Ex-Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams accused of ‘rewriting history’ as he denies ever having been an IRA member in landmark civil trial
Gerry Adams is accused of attempting to ‘rewrite history’ by repeatedly denying he was a member of the IRA as he gave evidence in a landmark civil case today.
The 77-year-old former Sinn Fein president is being sued by three survivors of IRA bomb attacks on mainland Britain in 1973 and 1996.
He appeared in the witness box today for the first time in a British courtroom on the sixth day of a civil trial to be questioned about his alleged role in the IRA.
Adams arrived at the Supreme Court in London with a shamrock in his coat pocket and wished the judge, Mr Justice Swift, ‘a very happy St Patrick’s Day’ as he ascended to the bench.
A group of supporters waving the Irish tricolour gathered outside the Royal Courts of Justice in central London, watched on by former military members who were closely following the hearing.
Adams is being sued by John Clark, victim of the IRA attack at the Old Bailey in 1973, Jonathan Ganesh, injured in the London Docklands attack in 1996, and Barry Laycock, injured in the attack at Manchester’s Arndale Shopping Center in the same year.
They claim Adams was ‘directly responsible’ for the atrocities due to his commanding role in the IRA.
Under cross-examination by former Director of Public Prosecutions Sir Max Hill KC, it was suggested to Adams that he and former Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness were ‘IRA volunteers turned politicians’.
Adams said: ‘I was always a political activist. I joined Sinn Fein at 16 and have been a political activist for 60 years.
‘I have never been a ‘politician’ I have always been politically engaged and I am not and was not a member of the IRA.’
Sir Max replied: ‘Mr Adams, you are rewriting history with your evidence.’
Adams told the High Court he was not a member of the IRA but struggled to explain why he had not called any witnesses who would corroborate his story.
Sir Max said: ‘There are those still alive who can be called as witnesses to assist you.’
Former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams gives thumbs up as he arrives at landmark legal case
He pointed to Adams’ assistant, Richard MacAuley, who was present in court.
Sir Max said: ‘Is Richard MacAuley alive?’
Adams replied: ‘As far as I know.’
Sir Max asked: ‘Was he present at these hearings?’
Adams replied: ‘Indeed it is.’
In a written witness statement, Adams said: ‘I have never been a member of the IRA or the Army Council.
‘I have never held a ‘command and control role’ in the IRA and have never been a senior person, let alone the most senior person, in the IRA.’
Adams claims that any discussions with senior figures in the IRA or the British government were solely about his role in Sinn Fein.
He added: ‘To be clear, membership of the Sinn Fein political party does not equate to membership of the IRA.
‘Throughout my life Sinn Fein’s opponents have repeatedly tried to unite Sinn Fein with the IRA. As I have always stated, Sinn Fein and the IRA are separate organisations.’
Mr Adams, who carries a shamrock in his jacket pocket, denies any role in the IRA and that he approved the bombings on the British mainland
When asked why he always ‘stands for the IRA’ even if he is not a member, Adams replied: ‘I don’t stand behind everything they do.
‘They were my neighbors. If your neighbors were under occupation… some of them would put up some form of resistance.’
“I’m glad there’s peace now,” he said.
He added: ‘I am not distancing myself from the IRA. I made it very clear that despicable things were being done that should not have been done.’
In his witness statement he added: ‘I would like to emphasize that I am aware that the plaintiffs suffered significantly as a result of the bombings in England between 1973 and 1996, in which they were innocent victims.
‘Although I categorically deny the claimants’ allegations that I was involved in these bombings, nothing in this statement should be taken as a criticism of the claimants or an attempt to deny or diminish their horrific experiences.’
Adams denied to a packed courtroom that wearing a black beret at an IRA funeral meant he was a member of the terrorist organisation, and in fact said he was ‘honoured’ to be part of the Republicans’ ‘guard of honour’.
About 50 members of the press and members of the public sit in the overflowing courtroom. Shadow defense secretary Mark Francois is also attending the meeting.
The trial continues.
