Call for Adams to respond to claims

Gerry Adams has been called upon to make a statement to the Dáil following fresh claims that he approved IRA bombings and abductions.

Fine Gael chairman Charlie Flanagan said Mr Adams should address the matter in a statement to the House.

“I am calling on Gerry Adams to address the Dáil this week to clarify claims made by Dolores Price, a convicted IRA bomber, that he was personally involved in IRA bombings and executions,” he said.

“In his capacity as leader of a Dáil group and president of Sinn Féin, the onus is on Deputy Adams to address the (House) given the seriousness of these claims. The people of this country have a right to know if there is any truth whatsoever to these allegations.”

Ms Price alleged Mr Adams had sanctioned and helped organise her bombing campaign in London in the early 1970s. She told the Sunday Telegraph that Mr Adams, as “officer commanding” of the IRA’s Belfast brigade, had also ordered her to drive alleged informers across the border into the Republic.

“The hardest thing I ever did was drive those people away and deliver them to a group of people across the border. I never knew for sure their ultimate end. I was simply told by Gerry Adams to take the people away, a couple of lads or whatever. Some I knew their fate, some I didn’t.”

She said one of the people she drove across the border was Jean McConville, the mother of 10 who was taken from her home, executed and secretly buried because of the IRA’s belief that she was a British informer.

“I don’t know who gave the instructions to execute her. Obviously it was decided between the general headquarters staff and the people in Belfast. Gerry Adams would have been part of that negotiation as to what was to happen to her.”

Ms Price is a staunch critic of both the peace process and Mr Adams, believing he sold out republicanism.

Mr Adams responded: “I reject again, as I have consistently rejected, the allegations contained in the Sunday Telegraph interview.”

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore said: “I think this is a matter for Mr Adams to reply to. I read the article, I heard what he had to say, it’s up to him to respond.”