Adams 'disagrees' with brother's extradition battle

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams today said he disagreed with his brother’s fight against extradition to face child sex abuse allegations.

Liam Dominic Adams turned himself into gardaí on Thursday after a European Arrest Warrant was issued by the PSNI.

The 54-year-old is wanted for questioning in Belfast over claims he sexually abused his daughter.

Claiming he will not get a fair trial in the North, he told Dublin’s High Court that he plans to contest his extradition.

Gerry Adams described it as a “desperate situation” and signalled he wanted his brother handed over to the PSNI.

“Of course I don’t agree with it. I don’t agree with any of that,” he said. “All of this is going to be a dreadful, difficult situation for as long as that process continues.”

Speaking after the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis, Mr Adams told RTE radio he had not spoken to his brother Liam for two years.

He said he would not wish the trauma being endured by his family on his worst enemy.

Liam Adams is wanted in relation to 18 offences against his daughter, Aine Tyrell, from March 1977 to March 1983, including allegations of rape, indecent assault and gross indecency.

He denied the allegations when arrested, replying: “I just want to say I’m not guilty of that. I will be pleading not guilty.”

Mr Adams was granted bail at Dublin’s High Court after handing himself into Bridewell garda station a day after the European Arrest Warrant was sanctioned.

The sex abuse claims became public in December when Ms Tyrell waived her right to anonymity in a television documentary.

Mr Adams denied he fled the North a year ago to escape prosecution but told the court he feared he and his children were in danger after media reports.