Adams urges followers to reassure unionists

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams has said Irish republicans must persuade the unionist community that its interests would be better served in a united Ireland.

Speaking in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, where he was campaigning for Sinn Fein’s election candidate Jim Dwyer, Mr Adams said republicans "should ensure that what they suffered under British rule is not perpetrated against unionists in a future 32-county state".

His remarks follow comments he made in New York 10 days ago that unionist assent and consent was needed to make a united Ireland work.

"I want to see a united Ireland," Mr Adams said today.

"I genuinely believe that the reunification of Ireland is the best option for the people of this island.

"I also believe that the British Government has no right to be in our country and that all five million of us who live on this island can do a better job of governing ourselves than Britain can.

"Republicans have got to get their heads around the need to persuade a section of unionism that its interests will be better served in a united Ireland, a new agreed Ireland," he said.