North in Crisis: Under fire Gerry Adams insists war is over and IRA is gone

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has insisted the Provisional IRA no longer exists, even in a “benign” criminal gang form alleged in recent days, and that his party has “no special responsibility” over recent murders in Belfast.

Mr Adams made his first substantial comments on the escalating row on both sides of the border amid ongoing calls for him to cut short his holidays and answer questions over the affair.

Writing in his weekly column for nationalist Belfast-based newspaper the Andersonstown News, which is re-published in today’s Irish Examiner, the Louth TD insisted “the war is over and the IRA is gone and is not coming back”.