Author stands by Adams 'IRA' claim

The author of a new book about the IRA today stood by his claims about Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams’s alleged links with the terrorist organisation.

Ed Moloney, author of a new book on the Provisionals, also hit back at the West Belfast MP’s accusation that his work was motivated by making money.

Mr Moloney has alleged that as the IRA’s Belfast commander in the early 1970s Mr Adams set up a shadowy unit that abducted, murdered and secretly buried at least nine people.

The claims provoked a furious denial from the Sinn Fein president.

Insisting the journalist’s allegations were outrageous, Mr Adams stressed he was never a member of the Provisionals.

But Mr Moloney today stood by everything written in his book, A Secret History of the IRA.

He said: “I think this is a bit sad in a way.

“It’s a residue from a period way back in the early 1980s when Sinn Fein first started to stand in elections.

“The first question always asked was ’Are you a member of the IRA?’

“To answer yes was to self incriminate and to end up in jail.”

Mr Adams has accused the author of putting together a lurid, spy thriller-type of book in a bid to make money.

Although he admitted he had not spent four years writing and researching the book without hoping for healthy sales, Mr Moloney suggested Mr Adams was guilty of double standards.

Referring to the Sinn Fein president’s own autobiography he said: “While I certainly got advances, without disclosing any figures they are minuscule in comparison to the advances given to the author of Before The Dawn.

“I will not be able to retire on that and I won’t be selling a second installment for twice the amount I have sold this one.”