Gerry Adams has said that he came to the High Court in London to “assert the legitimacy of the republican cause” and “to reject allegations” that he was behind three IRA bombings.
Three people injured in those incidents accused the former Sinn Féin president of being a top member of the Provisional IRA In those days.
mr adams Earlier this week he spoke about the civil trial He had “no involvement whatsoever” in the bombings and was never a member of a terrorist group.
Speaking on Thursday, he said the Irish people had had a bad experience “of the British courts, particularly the Irish Republicans”.
“I came to London to refute the allegations against me,” he said. “And to insist on the legitimacy of the republican cause and the right of the people of Ireland to be independent.
“I also come here out of respect for the claimants. I am very mindful of the many other victims of the conflict.
“They also deserve our respect. Thankfully, the war is over.”
The three men who have brought the case are John Clarke, a victim of the 1973 Old Bailey bombing; Jonathan Ganesh, 1996 Docklands bombing victim; and Barry Laycock, victim of the 1996 Manchester bombing.
Mr Adams, 77, was president of the Irish republican party Sinn Féin from 1983 to 2018.
His lawyer asked why the men – who are seeking a symbolic £1 in damages – had waited so long to bring the case and argued it should be dismissed.
Edward Craven Casey said Mr Clarke’s claim had been delayed “truly unprecedented in magnitude”.
He told the court: “We say that the very brief and hearsay evidence that has been provided to you falls far short of the kind of explanation that should be provided for a delay of this length.”
Mr Craven suggested people were using the trial, which would be decided by a judge alone, as a way of trying to conduct a “public-style inquiry”.
“One of the concerns we have is that the claims are being used as a vehicle for a broader investigation into Mr. Adams’ alleged role and actions,” he said.
He asked the court to focus only on the three bomb blasts.
Anne Studd Casey, who is representing the men, said it would be unfair if the case was thrown out at this point.
“This is arguable and legally objectionable and these claimants are entitled to pursue it,” he said.
Ms Studd had earlier said in the trial that a “puzzle” of evidence would prove Mr Adams was a senior member.
A former British intelligence officer told the court last week that he believed Mr Adams would not have achieved his political victory if he had not been on the IRA’s Army Council.
A second official said: “If the defendant had not been a senior figure in the IRA, there would have been no point in the British, Irish and United States governments treating him in the same way as they did on the way to the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.”
The Provisional IRA formally ended its armed campaign for Irish unification in 2005.
Mr Adams’ trial is expected to end on Friday.
