Adams: I won't be deflected by threats

Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams insisted he would not be diverted from the Northern Ireland peace process tonight despite claims his life was in danger from dissident republican terrorists.

The west Belfast MP said police visited his home and warned his wife that he was being actively targeted.

Mr Adams said he had to take the threat seriously but he would not be intimidated.

“All I know is that I have a job of work to do, that I was elected to represent people, that I don’t intend to be intimidated from representing those who support our party, and that wider group of people who support the peace process,” he said.

“Our focus remains exactly as it was.

“It’s unfortunate that this is part of life in this part of the island but we have to get on with our business.

“We can’t afford and we can’t just stop anyone from going ahead and doing what we’ve set out to do, which is to bring about a democratic peace settlement and then move forward from that into a new Ireland.”

Mr Adams, who was not at home when police called, said normal life must go on despite the existence of threats.

“There’s no way that you can allow any of this to stop you from doing what you were elected to do,” he said.

“That is, in the first instance, to represent Sinn Fein and the people that elect me but also to pursue the peace process which we have been heavily involved in since its inception.

“I don’t intend to be deflected from any of those tasks by whatever risk there is at this time.”

Mr Adams said he had not taken any further steps to upgrade his security in the wake of the threat.

“Republicans shouldn’t pay an awful lot of heed to this, we can take care of ourselves in terms of security,” he said.

“The reality of it all is let’s keep focused on the big picture, which is to move this struggle forward, to move the peace process forward and not be deflected by anything.”

A Police Service of Northern Ireland spokesman said the force did not discuss the personal security of any individual.

Dissident republican terrorists have stepped up their activities in the last year.

An alleged Real IRA spy ring was uncovered at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast last month when it was claimed the medical records of politicians, prison officers and police had been copied.

Recent attempted van bomb attacks were foiled in Derry and Belfast.

Dissident republican prisoners are also engaging in a dirty protest by smearing excrement on their cell walls in Maghaberry Prison, the north's main top-security jail, in a bid to gain segregation from loyalist prisoners.