Adams ‘unaware’ of brother’s activities

Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams has said that his brother, Liam, should never have been a member of the party. Liam Adams is wanted by the PSNI over claims that he sexually abused his daughter.

Mr Adams denied that he knew his brother headed the party in County Louth in 1996.

“The party in its statement on this acknowledged that Liam was a member of Sinn Fein,” Mr Adams said at the weekend. However, he added: “For my part, I did not know that Liam was a member of Sinn Fein. I did know he was in republican circles.”

Mr Adams admitted he had met his younger brother around this time despite the fact that they were estranged.

“In the interview which I did for the Insight programme [on UTV] I did acknowledge that, although we were estranged, I actually volunteered that we met on a number of occasions.”

Asked about apparent inconsistencies between what he said in a television interview and photographs of his brother and Sinn Fein leading figures in a Dundalk newspaper, Mr Adams said: “I don’t think there are any questions to answer. But if there are, put the questions.

“The fact is that he [Liam] should not have been a member of Sinn Fein and I’m totally certain about that,” he said.

Articles from the newspaper archives indicate that, at one point, Liam Adams was head of the Sinn Fein Comhairle Cheantar [district executive].

Louth Sinn Fein TD Arthur Morgan had also said that although Liam Adams was a party member, he was never an officer.

Liam Adams was due to appear in court in Belfast in November 2008 to face 23 charges relating to the alleged abuse but failed to attend. He continues to deny the allegations.

He has presented himself to gardai police in the 26 Counties informing them where he can be found. However, he has stated he does not intend to return north of the border to face his daughter.

For reasons which remain unknown, the PSNI have still not delivered a warrant for his arrest to the Gardai.

The force has also dismissed evidence that it (and previously as the RUC) provided official clearance for Liam Adams to work in three different youth centres since the allegations were brought to its attention in 1987.

Speaking to reporters at Stormont today, Mr Adams also denied there was any parallel “at all” between DUP leader Peter Robinson’s difficulties over his wife’s actions and his own situation with his brother.

“Any comparison between the issue of a family trying to deal with the trauma of child abuse and the political problems which have arisen here is offensive”, he said.

* Mr Adams has received a death threat from loyalists, according to Sinn Fein. The PSNI told him of the danger posed by a splinter unionist paramilitary group called the Orange Volunteers, The same organisation made similar threats to Sinn Fein Junior minister Gerry KelIy and education minister Caitriona Ruane earlier last week.

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