Adams’s brother guilty of raping child
Liam Dominic Adams, aged 58, from Bernagh Drive in Belfast, was convicted of raping and sexually assaulting his daughter, Aine, over a six-year period from 1977 to 1983, when she was aged between four and nine.
Adams showed no emotion as the guilty verdicts were returned.
The jury of nine men and three women had heard more than two weeks of evidence at Belfast Crown Court. They took almost four hours to reach guilty verdicts with a majority of 11 to one.
There was complete silence as the jury foreman read out guilty verdicts on all of the 10 charges to the packed court.
Áine Adams, who was surrounded by family members, wept and clutched her sister Sinéad for support.
On the other side of the public gallery, Adams’s second wife, Bronagh, and their daughter, Claire, who gave evidence in his defence, also cried.
Adams nodded to them as he was led to the cells.
During the trial, Áine Adams gave graphic details of the abuse. The first time she recalled being raped was while her mother was in hospital giving birth to her brother Conor in 1977.
In another incident she was raped by her father at a flat on Belfast’s AntrimRd while her brother was asleep in the bed beside her.
Adams, who was a heavy drinker, forced his daughter to perform sex acts.
In a statement read out by a police officer outside the court, Ms Adams said: “I do not see this verdict as a victory or a celebration as it has taken its toll and has caused hurt, heartache and anguish for all those involved.
“I can now begin my life at 40 and lay to rest the memory of the five-year- old girl who was abused.”
The allegations were first made public when Ms Adams took part in a TV documentary in 2009. A short time later, Gerry Adams revealed his father Gerry Sr, a veteran IRA man, had physically and sexually abused members of his family.
Liam Adams was eventually handed over to the PSNI at the border in Nov 2011 after losing a lengthy and expensive extradition battle after fleeing to the Republic.
The trial opened in April this year but collapsed due to legal reasons.
At the time, Gerry Adams was called as a prosecution witness. He told the court he confronted his brother about the claims during a meeting in Buncrana, Co Donegal, in 1987 and Liam Adams denied the abuse.
He said his brother later confessed while they were out walking in Dundalk, Co Louth, in 2000.
Gerry Adams was not called as a prosecution witness for the latest trial.
Liam Adams is due to be sentenced next month.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
