06/10/2011

Adams To Appeal Extradition

Liam Adams is set to appeal against his extradition to Northern Ireland.

The brother of Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams plans to appeal against the decision saying that he is not guilty of sexually abusing his daughter.

Mr Adams is wanted by the Police Service of Northern Ireland in relation to 18 alleged offences against his daughter, Aine Tyrell, who has waived her right to anonymity.

He lost his fight against extradition from the Irish Republic at the High Court in Dublin, on Monday.

Mr Adams now has 15 days to lodge an appeal against the court's ruling before the extradition order takes effect.

Mr Adams has denied the charges put to him. He said he did not assault his daughter on numerous occasions between 1977 and 1983.

The Background

It is nearly three years ago that the media alleged the 56-year-old had abused his daughter.

In December 2009, a UTV programme claimed that Liam Adams had sexually abused his daughter for a period spanning about a decade.

During 2009–10 there was a significant amount of controversy concerning allegations of child abuse in the family of Gerry Adams, a senior Irish politician and leader of Sinn Fein. The allegations of abuse are against Gerry's brother and father and not against Gerry Adams himself.

In response to the programme, Gerry urged his brother to turn himself in to the police and he also alleged that his deceased father, Gerry Adams, Sr., had subjected family members to emotional, physical and sexual abuse.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland issued a European Arrest Warrant for Liam Adams' arrest.

Liam Adams presented himself at a Garda Síochána police station in Sligo in December 2009. However they were not able to arrest him as they did not have the necessary European Arrest Warrant. Adams did not wish to hand himself into police in Northern Ireland, citing unfairness.

On the 3 March 2010, the High Court in Dublin endorsed the European arrest warrant, which was issued in Liam Adams' name by the Serious Organised Crime Agency.

The following day, 4 March, Adams again handed himself over to the authorities in the Republic. When he was arrested he said, "I just want to say I'm not guilty."

(LB/BMcC)

Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

21 March 2024
PSNI Welcomes CJINI Inspection Report
The PSNI has welcomed the publication of the Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland (CJINI) inspection report and said that it accepts all of the recommendations that relate to the Police Service.
18 October 2011
Adams Extradition Appeal Denied
Liam Adams has been remanded in custody in the Republic after he lost a bid to halt his extradition to Northern Ireland to face sexual abuse allegations.
28 September 2011
Liam Adam's Ruling Postponed
A Belfast man will have to wait until Monday to hear whether he will be extradited back to Northern Ireland on charges of raping and abusing his daughter. Liam Adams is wanted by the Police Service of Northern Ireland in relation to 18 alleged offences against his daughter, Aine Tyrell, who has waived her right to anonymity.
21 October 2015
Sinn Féin Call On Govt To Establish NAMA Commission Of Investigation
Sinn Féin has called on the government to establish a "Commission of Investigation into the sale of NAMA's loan books, including its northern loan book".
29 January 2015
President Should Not Be Focus Of Protests - Gerry Adams
President Michael D Higgins should not be the focus of political protests, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said. President Higgins was the focus of abuse last week, when a group of protesters were waiting on him to leave an event.