Abuse accused brother of Adams worked for SF after expulsion

The suspected child abusing brother of Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams worked for the party in Belfast after being forced out of a branch in the Republic over the allegations, Sinn Féin admitted today.

The local organisation in staunchly republican west Belfast was unaware of claims against Liam Adams even though his party president brother says he earlier moved to have him thrown out of the party over child protection fears.

Liam Adams is wanted by police in the North over claims he sexually abused his daughter.

Party chairman Declan Kearney said: "In light of the allegation made public against Liam Adams and the above facts, it is clear that he should not have been a member of Sinn Féin."

Gerry Adams had claimed his brother had been dumped from Sinn Féin at a stage when archive photographs appeared to show him still active in the party.

A report was given to the party's ruling Ard Chomhairle this morning.

Mr Adams is involved in hothouse talks at Stormont Castle with the Democratic Unionist Party and hopes to secure the devolution of policing powers from London to Belfast.

He said he became aware in 1997 that his brother was a member of Sinn Féin in Louth and moved to expel him.

Mr Kearney added: "The party president moved to ensure that Liam Adams didn't go forward as a candidate (for election) and that he later left the party. Gerry Adams did this without involving the party locally or nationally."

After this Liam Adams continued to mix in republican circles. From 2000 he involved himself in local party work in Belfast.

According to Sinn Féin he did not re-apply to join the party but held a number of positions in a branch of the party in Lower Andersonstown, including chairman, before it dissolved.

The party chairman added: "The local organisation was unaware of the allegation against Liam Adams and the circumstances of his departure from Sinn Féin in Louth. Clearly his admission to the party in Belfast should have been avoided.

"Gerry Adams has informed the party that he was not aware of Liam Adams's involvement in party work at this time."

Louth Sinn Féin TD Arthur Morgan has also said that although Liam Adams was a party member he was never an officer.

In December, the Sunday Tribune published photographs which appeared to contradict him.

They show Mr Adams posing with his brother and Sinn Féin's Co Louth candidate in the General Election, Owen Hanratty, reportedly published in a local newspaper in June 1997.

In December, Gerry Adams revealed his late father Gerry Snr subjected family members to emotional, physical and sexual abuse over many years.

He said he discovered the allegations levelled against his brother in 1987 and had brought Liam's daughter Aine Tyrell, then aged 14, to confront her father.

Liam Adams gave himself up to gardaí in Sligo before Christmas. They could not detain him as they did not have the right warrant.

Ian Paisley Jr has asked an Assembly committee to investigate if Gerry Adams breached its rules by failing to act about his brother's alleged sex abuse.

The DUP Assembly member submitted questions to Assembly Ombudsman Tom Frawley. Mr Frawley will assess if the complaint merits being passed to the Assembly's Committee on Standards and Privileges.

Mr Kearney added: "Political opponents have chosen to cynically exploit this tragic situation for wholly political ends.

"This is disgraceful, they will not succeed."

Gerry Adams said he learned yesterday that his brother had worked in west Belfast, adding he should not have done so.

"Had I known that he was in Sinn Féin in Belfast I would have acted to have him leave the party," he said.

"Sinn Féin did not know of the allegations against Liam Adams and did nothing wrong. There was no cover-up by Sinn Féin.

"It is a matter of sincere regret that my colleagues have been the target of unfair and unjustifiable criticism by political opponents."

He said statutory bodies including the police were told of the allegation in 1987.

Three years ago, after his niece went to police, Gerry Adams said he made a statement to the PSNI in support of her and against his brother.

"The professional advice was to support the victims, protect the victims' right to anonymity, while that was their wish, and to help bring closure and empower victims and their relatives," he added.