People who were in the IRA not criminals, says Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams

His comments were defended by party TDs, including former IRA member Martin Ferris, who said he did not deem any of his actions as criminal while he was a member of the organisation.
Mr Adams again defended convicted tax evader Thomas ‘Slab’ Murphy yesterday, going further by saying Murphy and others could not be deemed a criminal for involvement in the IRA.