An IRA victim has called on Gerry Adams to refuse any compensation that he might receive from the UK government for being interned – and instead to ask the authorities to divide it among IRA victims.

Ann Travers was speaking after former Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said he would donate any compensation he might receive for being interned without trial in 1973 to "good causes".

In 1984 her 23 year old sister Mary, a primary school teacher, was gunned down by the IRA as she walked home from mass in west Belfast in 1984.

Mr Adams has been fighting a lengthy battle to secure compensation.

placeholder image — An IRA victim has called on Gerry Adams to refuse any compensation that he might receive from the UK government for being interned - and instead to ask the authorities to divide it among IRA victims.

In 2023 Parliament passed the Legacy Act to stop him but last year the High Court in Belfast ruled that it was incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has since said he is looking at “every conceivable way” to stop former Troubles internees such as Mr Adams from seeking compensation.

In an article written for Tribune magazine reported this week, Mr Adams said he would continue to pursue his case.

"I have no personal interest in compensation for myself. If any comes to me at the end of this process, I will donate it to good causes," he said.

But Anne Travers described the prospect of Mr Adams being paid six figures in compensation, compared to paltry figures available for IRA victims, was "sickening".

Addressing the former Sinn Fein leader directly, she said: "Mr Adams, if the British government does end up paying out compensation to you, do the right thing; Refuse it and ask them to divide it amongst the widows/widowers/children/siblings and physically injured victims of the IRA. They can then decide if they want to accept it or donate it to a charity of their choice."

Ann told the News Letter: “The thought that Mr Adams would be compensated - while victims and survivors of the troubles battle to get a small acknowledgement pension for either being permanently physically and or psychologically injured - is sickening."

She noted how difficult it is for IRA victims to secure paltry levels of compensation.

The the victims payment scheme is limited to those who were present at an attack or immediately after - excluded hundreds of bereaved relatives.

Even those who are entitled have to go through an "arduous, prolonged, traumatic process" to prove their permanent disability, especially when it’s psychological.

"And all this to perhaps receive a pittance of just over £2000 a year for a 14% permanent disability up to just over £10,000 a year a 100% disability.

"Meanwhile, there is a possibility that Mr Adams, who justified republican murders during the Troubles and up to today, faces the possibility of receiving compensation in six figures."

By contrast, she added, "the vast majority of victims and survivors of terrorism, both republican and loyalist, were lucky to receive compensation in three figures for their loved ones murder".

Ann's sister was gunned down by the IRA as she walked home from mass in west Belfast in 1984 with her mother and father, Tom and Joan.

Her father Tom, a resident magistrate, was seriously injured but survived. The gunmen also tried to shoot her mother Joan in the head, but the gun jammed.

The attack happened 200 yards from their family home. Fourteen year-old Ann and her brothers came upon the carnage soon after. Since 2011 she has advocated for victims rights, in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Sinn Fein was invited to comment.