Northern Ireland

Gerry Adams critical of IRA membership questions at Ballymurphy inquest

Gerry Adams gave evidence to the Ballymurphy inquest at the Laganside court complex in Belfast 
Gerry Adams gave evidence to the Ballymurphy inquest at the Laganside court complex in Belfast  Gerry Adams gave evidence to the Ballymurphy inquest at the Laganside court complex in Belfast 

GERRY Adams has criticised how he was questioned when giving evidence at the inquest into the Ballymurphy killings in 1971.

The former Sinn Féin president appeared as a witness last week at the inquest into the shooting of 10 people – including a Catholic priest and a mother-of-eight.

In a letter, published in today's Irish News, Mr Adams said lawyers for the Ministry of Defence “did not properly challenge” his evidence that the IRA had “decided not to engage” the British army on the days of the killings.

Mr Adams was also critical of the media’s reporting of his inquest appearance, which he said focused on allegations around IRA membership.

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In the letter he says: “All of these are pertinent matters in the context of trying to get truth and justice for the families of those killed.

“It is telling that the counsel for the British Ministry of Defence did not properly challenge my evidence or put to me any of the detail of the alleged gunfire which some ex-British soldiers claim came from republicans.

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“Instead he concentrated on allegations against me which have nothing to do with the matters being investigated by the inquest.

“This points to the reality that there is no credible evidence to support the British allegations of sustained gunfire directed at the Paratroopers. That is because there was none.”