Adams to seek explanation of Ahern’s bank raid comments

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has said he will be seeking an explanation from the Taoiseach about his claims that the Sinn Féin leadership had advance knowledge of the Northern Bank robbery.

Bertie Ahern said earlier this month that he believed the "political leadership" of the republican movement knew about the robbery.

Mr Adams said today that the allegation was "totally unfounded and highly offensive" and the Taoiseach had effectively accused him of conspiracy in the largest bank heist in Irish history.

The Sinn Féin president said he wanted to know the basis for the claim.

He also said Mr Ahern's comments on the bank robbery had damaged Sinn Féin's relationship with the Irish Government, but he would do his best to repair this relationship in the interests of the peace process.