Poll uncovers slump in Gerry Adams’ popularity

Public support for Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has slumped significantly in the wake of the on-going controversy surrounding IRA criminality, according to an opinion poll published this morning.

The poll put support for Mr Adams at 31%, down from 51% last November. Despite this, core support for Sinn Féin has remained relatively steady at 9%, compared to 10% in November.

Almost two-thirds of respondents to the poll said they believed the Government had been “too soft” on IRA criminality in the past.

More than 60% also said they believed the IRA and Sinn Féin were “one and the same organisation”, while almost half said they believed Justice Minister Michael McDowell’s claim that Gerry Adams, Martin McGuinness and Martin Ferris are members of the IRA army council.

Elsewhere, three-fifths of respondents, including almost 30% of Sinn Féin supporters, said they believed the IRA was responsible for the £26.5m (€38m) Belfast bank robbery.