GERRY ADAMS HAS launched a scathing attack on former Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson.

Speaking at a meeting of the Sinn Féin Ard Comhairle in Dublin today, Adams said that Robinson had “contrived” the current crisis in the north.

Robinson, along with all DUP ministers except one, resigned from the Northern Ireland Assembly on Thursday. The resignations came after a fortnight of crisis in the North, as unionists left the power-sharing executive over allegations that the Provisional IRA was involved in the murder of Kevin McGuigan.

“I think he’s making a show of himself.

“We have tried to be very measured in how we dealt with this. I went back to Belfast last evening and everyone I met was in exacerbation about where we’re at.

Now we’re going to get a new version of the hokey-pokey.

Adams said that Sinn Féin “had no choice” but to try to work with the DUP.

We believe that we are pledged to honour our mandate. The thing that’s frustrating is that there’s a lot of posturing. There’s a different persona when you’re meeting some of these folks in private.

“They know that these matters can be sorted out in private.”

Adams said that even a fractured Northern Executive was “better than what it replaced” and said that the party should stay “patient, focused and calm”.

He said that the Taoiseach Enda Kenny and British Prime Minister David Cameron must do more on the North. 

“The Taoiseach must persuade Mr Cameron of this and of the reality that there is a different set of economic and social challenges from those in Britain.

“They must demonstrate the leadership and generosity that we expect from all parties.”

Reporting by Hugh O’Connell

Read: Peter Robinson has resigned as First Minister of Northern Ireland

Read: Bobby Storey released after arrest in Kevin McGuigan murder investigation