SINN FEIN LEADER Gerry Adams said today he did “the best he could under difficult circumstances” and said he was happy to leave the four agencies investigating him to it.
Earlier this month, the Public Prosecution Service in Northern Ireland said it would be reviewing the decision not to prosecute Gerry Adams over allegations that he withheld information about his brother, who was convicted of child abuse.
Investigation
Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast, he said the question that wasn’t being asked was why didn’t the police and the social services investigate the issue that his niece was being abused when they were told in 1987, he said.
This is the big piece of information that always wrangles with me. The police were told in 1987, the social services were told. The question that isn’t being asked is why didn’t they investigate in 1987 when Áine was a minor…
He said:
I’ve committed no offence, I did the best I could under difficult circumstances. I cooperated with the PSNI and the PPS, and I gave evidence against my brother in court…
He said that the it was quite “unprecedented” to have four agencies investigating the matter, but said “they are investigating matters, let them say what they have to say at the end of it”.
Difficult circumstances
He said there were numerous inaccuracies being reported, stating he was asked by someone only recently had he any regrets: “Obviously when you are trying to do your best in a difficult situation it is hard to get it right all the time. Áine was an adult, is an adult. She had issues she wanted dealt with, she wanted her father to acknowledge, privately, what he had done and apologise for it. I tried to facilitate that and I failed. She went to the police, the trial happened, Liam was found guilty and Áine was vindicated”.
He said his niece wanted the matter handled in a certain way and he tried to facilitate her wishes, stating: “I could have, when Aine came back to me as an adult, said ‘Aine, there is nothing I can do, you should go to the police,’ maybe that’s what I should have done”.
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