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Gerry Adams has taken the witness stand in a civil lawsuit currently underway in London, where he faces allegations connecting him to key IRA bombing operations in England. The trial, now in its sixth day at the High Court and presided over by Mr Justice Swift, follows testimonies from eleven witnesses supporting the claimants’ case. Adams is expected to be the sole witness presenting a defense.
The case involves three men who are seeking a ruling that holds Adams personally responsible for injuries they sustained in bombings carried out in London and Manchester. These bombings include the 1973 Old Bailey attack as well as the 1996 incidents in London’s Docklands and Manchester’s Arndale Shopping Centre. They have each requested symbolic damages of £1. Adams, aged 77, has denied any connection to the IRA or involvement in these bombings, emphasizing his political work dating back to the late 1960s aimed at ending conflict in Northern Ireland. Upon arriving at court on St Patrick’s Day, he wore a green tie and a shamrock in his lapel, and opened his testimony by wishing the courtroom a “very happy St Patrick’s Day.”
In the statement Adams provided to the court, spanning 20 pages, he categorically denies membership in the IRA or holding any IRA rank. He also refutes having any part in authorizing or planning the bombings attributed to the claimants’ injuries. Adams highlights his long-standing dedication to political solutions and peace-building efforts in Northern Ireland, adding that he remains committed to supporting the peace process and working toward Irish unity, despite being retired from frontline politics.
The claimant side has presented evidence from former police and military officials which alleges that Adams was linked to the IRA’s army council from the late 1970s until as late as 2005. One retired army colonel went as far as to say it was “inconceivable” that Adams was not involved in authorizing the 1996 Docklands bombing that ended the first IRA ceasefire. Counsel for Adams has argued that the lawsuit rests on “an assortment of hearsay” and is barred by the statute of limitations defined by legislation passed in 1980. If the court sides with this argument on limitation grounds, they contend no ruling on liability would be necessary. Notably, Adams was once charged in 1978 with IRA membership but that case was dropped owing to insufficient evidence, and his only convictions related to the Troubles have since been overturned
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