Gerry Adams appeared at the High Court in London after victims of numerous Provisional IRA bombings in England said they are seeking £1 in damages against him
Gerry Adams appeared to be wearing a stab-proof vest as he arrived at the High Court where it was heard he was “directly responsible for and complicit” in decisions made by the Provisional IRA to detonate bombs in England.
John Clark, a victim of the 1973 Old Bailey bombing in London, Jonathan Ganesh, a 1996 London Docklands bombing victim, and Barry Laycock, a victim of the 1996 Arndale shopping centre bombing in Manchester, all allege Mr Adams was a leading member of the Provisional IRA on those dates, including of its Army Council.
The victims are bringing legal action against the ex-Sinn Fein president and are seeking £1 in damages. Mr Adams denies that he had any role in the Provisional IRA and is opposing the claim.
Earlier today, Mr Adams arrived at the Royal Courts of Justice while wearing what appeared to be a stab-proof vest, and was driven into the car park. The London court heard the three men wanted to show Mr Adams was involved with the Provisional IRA “in the course of that conflict and to show on the balance of probabilities that he was as involved as the people who planted and detonated those bombs.”
Anne Studd KC, who represents the men, opened her case on Monday by stating Mr Adams was “directly responsible for and complicit in those decisions made by that organisation to detonate bombs on the British mainland in 1973 and 1996.” In written submissions, Ms Studd added: “The defendant carefully draws a distinction between being a member of ‘the Army’ and being a member of Sinn Fein.
“In reality, the evidence will demonstrate that this was not the clear either/or choice as the defendant would have you believe. For many individuals, we say, including Mr Adams, that was a distinction without a difference.”
Ms Studd told the court that a “jigsaw” of evidence from those who knew Mr Adams and those who knew of him will prove the case against him. She added: “The claimants’ case is that none of these bombings in the United Kingdom mainland took place without the knowledge and agreement of the defendant in his role in the Provisional IRA and latterly as a member of the seven-man Army Council.”
She concluded: “There is no doubt that the defendant contributed to the peace in Northern Ireland, but the claimants say that on the evidence he also contributed to the war.”
Following the first day of the trial, Mr Adams said: “I’m here to defend myself and to challenge the allegations being made against me. We will let the court get on with its business. But I would like to say for the record and at the outset that the only thing that I am guilty of is being an Irish republican committed to ending British rule in our country and seeking to unite the people of Ireland on the basis of freedom, equality, peace and solidarity.”
The trial is expected to end next week.
