Gerry Adams was a 'major, major player in war', UK High Court hears

"You were, weren't you Mr Adams? And you deny it. I was president of Sinn Féin for 35 years, deeply involved in the struggle. I defended the use of armed struggle when I thought it was appropriate. I'm not boasting but I don't deny that I was a person of interest, of influence, and I used that influence as best I could to move from war to peace."

"The British know it. The people on the street know it. The dogs know it on the street. And he's standing there denying it. This quote from Brendan Hughes's interview in Say Nothing describes Adams's IRA membership as common knowledge, directly contradicting Adams's denial of ever being an IRA member."

Three victims of IRA bombings—John Clark (1973 Old Bailey), Jonathan Ganesh (1996 Docklands), and Barry Laycock (1996 Arndale)—are suing Gerry Adams for £1 in damages, alleging he was a leading Provisional IRA member and Army Council member during those periods. Adams denies all allegations, stating he had no involvement in the bombings and was never an IRA member. During court proceedings, recorded interviews from deceased IRA member Brendan Hughes were played, in which Hughes described Adams as a major player and stated his IRA membership was common knowledge. Adams acknowledged being Sinn Féin president for 35 years and a person of influence, but maintained he was not an IRA member and used his influence to transition from conflict to peace.

Read at Irish Independent