Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams denied in court today that he told lies to a television journalist about his brother Liam. He said he “took exception” to the accusation.
Mr Adams was giving evidence in Belfast Crown Court in relation to the case of sexual assault charges against 57-year-old Liam Adams from Bernagh Drive in west Belfast.
Liam Adams denies ten charges against him involving his daughter Aine– three or rape, three of gross indecency and four of indecent assault. It is alleged the assaults took place over a six year period beginning in 1977 when Aine Adams was aged four.
During today’s hearing Gerry Adams said that in 2000 his brother Liam admitted to him that he had molested Aine Adams. This happened during a “walk in the rain” in Dundalk.
Ms Eilis McDermott, QC, acting for Liam Adams, put it to him that her client never made such an admission. “I don’t accept your submission,” said Mr Adams, insisting his brother had made an admission of guilt.
Mr Adams also referred to a meeting in Buncranna, Co Donegal with his brother in 1987 where he confronted him about the allegations made by Aine Adams. He spoke to him in the company of Aine Adams and her mother Sarah Marie, and he also spoke to him alone.
On both occasions at that meeting Liam Adams denied the allegations. The court has already heard that on that occasion it was alleged that Mr Adams threatened to hit Liam Adams with a hammer. Mr Adams said he never made such a threat.
Ms McDermott then referred to a television interview the Sinn Fein president gave in 2009 where he said that after the 1987 meeting his brother left the country and that Liam Adams thereafter “was more or less out of his life for the next 15 years”.
Ms McDermott said both assertions were lies. Mr Adams said he took exception to this accusation and that he was not lying. Asked where his brother went, Mr Adams said he went to Canada.
Ms McDermott however said that Liam Adams went to Canada for a period in 1983 but apart from occasional holidays in Spain did not leave the country after that. Mr Adams said he was providing evidence that was to “the best of his recollection”.
Ms McDermott in relation to her allegation that Mr Adams was lying about putting his brother out of his life for 15 years then put several photographs up on screen that showed Mr Adams in the company of Liam Adams on various dates and in various places. The dates included 1991, 1996, 1997 and 1998. She also showed an inscription to Liam Adams that Mr Adams signed on the flyleaf of one of his book, “An Irish Journey” in May 2001.
This all served to demonstrate, said Ms McDermott, that far from being out of his life he was in regular contact with Liam Adams. Mr Adams said he had never denied he had been in contact with Liam Adams.
Ms McDermott suggested Mr Adams was trying to create distance between him and the defendant. “That is not the case; I love my brother,” said Mr Adams.
