Bomb victim believes Gerry Adams played 'major part' in the IRA

Jonathan Ganesh was giving evidence at the High Court in London in a civil case brought against the former Sinn Féin president

Former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice, in central London, where a civil claim is being brought against him for just £1 in damages by three men who were injured in Provisional IRA bombings on the UK mainland in the 1970s and 1990s. 

A man injured in the 1996 London Docklands bombing has said he believes Gerry Adams played a "major part" in the IRA.

Jonathan Ganesh, giving evidence at the High Court in London in a civil case brought against the former Sinn Féin president, was injured in the 1996 London Docklands bombing, which killed his friends Inam Bashir and John Jeffries and injured more than 100 others.

Along with John Clark, a victim of the 1973 Old Bailey bombing in London, and Barry Laycock, a victim of the 1996 Arndale shopping centre bombing in Manchester, the three men allege that Mr Adams was a leading member of the Provisional IRA on those dates, including of its Army Council.

They are seeking a nominal £1 in damages. Mr Adams denies that he had any role in the Provisional IRA and is opposing the claim.

During the evidence before the High Court on Tuesday, Anne Studd KC, representing the three men, asked Mr Ganesh what his catalyst is for bringing the proceedings.

Mr Ganesh said he was "very concerned regarding Mr Adams' behaviour" in bringing legal action against the UK Government.

He said: "I felt that is not right for all of the innocent victims who have suffered."

James Robottom, representing Mr Adams, asked Mr Ganesh if he was bringing the claim to seek justice. He said: "Some kind of justice, that is correct."

The barrister asked if he was also bringing the case on behalf of other IRA victims. Mr Ganesh said: "That would be a fair statement."

Mr Robottom said: "You want to be able to say Gerry Adams is the man responsible for the bombing that injured you?"

Mr Ganesh said: "I don't suggest for one minute that Mr Adams drove the lorry or planted the bomb, but I do believe he played a major part in the IRA and I thought he had some involvement with the attack."

The barrister questioned the witness about why he did not bring the case against Mr Adams years earlier.

Mr Ganesh said after the 1996 bombing, he was angry but never opposed the peace process in Northern Ireland, even though it led to the early release from prison of James McArdle, who had been convicted of the Docklands attack.

He said he thought the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 would have prevented him from bringing a compensation claim against Mr Adams earlier.

He said: "In my heart, I was hoping the peace process would work."

Mr Ganesh said it was only when Mr Adams announced his intention to sue the British government that he explored the possibility of bringing a case against him.

Before lunch, the trial heard from Mr Laycock.

Mr Robottom asked him why he was bringing the case decades after the Arndale bombing.

Mr Laycock said he had decided that if Mr Adams was bringing a legal case against the British government, he wanted to bring a case against the former Sinn Féin leader.

The witness said he wanted the "truth to be established" during the hearing.

He added: "I think he (Mr Adams) had an involvement with the IRA."

Mr Adams was in the courtroom in London as the evidence was delivered.

The trial before Mr Justice Swift is expected to end next week.