Gerry Adams pictured in beret at funeral 'proof he was in the IRA', court hears, as former Sinn Fein president says he doesn't take Gavin Robinson's comments 'too seriously'
A former IRA member has told the High Court in London that an image he says shows Gerry Adams wearing a beret at a funeral is proof he was in the organisation.
Shane Paul O’Doherty added that there was “not a chance” anyone else would wear that style of hat at the time.
Giving evidence in a civil case brought against the former Sinn Fein president, he said the image, purportedly taken at the funeral of IRA man Michael Kane in September 1971, shows Mr Adams wearing a beret as part of an “honour guard”.
He said anyone who was not a member of the IRA “wouldn’t want to be caught with one” and that the berets were kept in IRA “dumps” along with “other regalia”.
The comments came as Mr Adams dismissed DUP leader Gavin Robinson’s words that it would be “seismic” if the court concluded the former Sinn Fein president was in the IRA, stating he didn’t take the East Belfast MP’s statement “too seriously”.
The case against Mr Adams has been brought by victims of three bombings in the UK: Jonathan Ganesh, who was injured in the 1996 London Docklands bombing; John Clark, a victim of the 1973 Old Bailey bombing in London; and Barry Laycock, a victim of the 1996 Arndale shopping centre bombing in Manchester.
The three men allege that Mr Adams was a leading member of the Provisional IRA on those dates, including of its Army Council, and are seeking £1 in damages.
In court, Mr O’Doherty related that he conducted letter bomb campaigns for the IRA in London and served more than 14 years in prison.
He said that, while in prison, he was suspended from the organisation for “asking questions about the murder of innocent Protestants”.
He added that he left the IRA in late 1977 and published a letter calling for the end of the armed struggle.
Asked by Mr Adams’ lawyer Edward Craven KC if had ever attended Army Council meetings, Mr O’Doherty said he was at Martin McGuinness’s “elbow” and “these meetings occurred around” him.
When Mr Craven suggested his evidence was based on “gossip, stories and rumour”, Mr O’Doherty responded by giving a detailed account of a visit he said was made to the home of Mr Adams’ aunt in Sutton, Dublin.
Questioned about what he knew about activities of the Belfast Brigade of the IRA when he was based in Londonderry, Mr O’Doherty said there was “no great distinction between” the organisation’s two brigades, adding “one army, they were calling it”.
Mr Craven asked how much relevant information Mr O’Doherty could have had about Mr Adams around the time of the bombings in the 1990s, as he had long left the organisation.
Mr O’Doherty replied saying he was meeting “IRA people all the time”, adding that it was “very hard in Ireland, with my background, to keep IRA people at bay”.
Meanwhile, Mr Adams has said he did not take comments from DUP leader Gavin Robinson “too seriously”.
Before the second day of the trial in civil claims brought by three victims of Provisional IRA bombings, Mr Robinson said outside court it would be “seismic” if the court concluded Mr Adams was an IRA member.
Speaking outside the Royal Courts of Justice after yesterday’s hearing concluded, Mr Adams was asked about Mr Robinson’s comments and said: “I don’t take Mr Robinson’s remarks too seriously. I think all of us have a duty to show solidarity to all the victims, no matter who was responsible for their injuries or their deaths, and I think that’s fair enough.”
He continued: “I think he’d be better spending his time and using his energy and his talent to make sure that the Stormont Assembly and the other institutions work for the benefit of all of the people of the island of Ireland, particularly the people of the north.”
Mr Adams later declined to answer a question about whether he was wearing body armour when he attended Monday’s hearing, telling reporters: “We don’t discuss security matters.”