GERRY ADAMS HAS always denied that he is or ever was a member of the IRA, although that has not stopped him facing repeated questions from the media and others about the issue.

Last year, a poll found that most Sinn Féin voters believe that he was in the militant republican organisation.

When the Sinn Féin president spoke to TheJournal.ie in March 2013, we asked whether these constant questions were hampering the party’s ability to progress.

During that interview, Adams made this very definitive statement:
https://vine.co/v/OHuIbbUK5iU

In addition to Adams himself, his senior party colleagues are occasionally asked whether they believe what their party leader is saying about not being a member of the IRA.

So, we put the question to one of Sinn Féin’s rising stars, the Midlands North West MEP Matt Carthy, and his answer was pretty honest:

There will be more from our interview with Matt Carthy on TheJournal.ie later this week ahead of the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis in Derry this weekend. 

Gerry Adams: I’m very relaxed about most Sinn Féin supporters thinking I was in the IRA

Matt Carthy: ‘A kick in the backside’: Sinn Féin MEP on THAT smackdown from Phil Hogan