Senator tells Gerry Adams defamation case he was known to politicians as leading member of the IRA

Michael McDowell said he had never met anyone in the 'political process or the media' who did not believe Mr Adams was in the IRA

Senator Michael McDowell said Gerry Adams was known as a leading member of the IRA, who was active in the IRA during its period of 'armed struggle'. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Senator Michael McDowell has told a jury in Gerry Adams’ defamation case he had never met any politician — apart from Martin McGuinness and Martin Ferris — that did not believe the former Sinn Féin president was a member of the Provisional IRA.

Mr McDowell, a former tánaiste and attorney general, was giving evidence at the High Court on the fourth week of a trial hearing into Mr Adams’ action.