Ballymurphy Inquest: Gerry Adams Denies IRA Membership

Gerry Adams has repeated his denial that he was a member of the IRA while giving evidence during the Ballymurphy Inquest.

The former Sinn Fein President said he will never disassociate himself from the organisation, while speaking at the ongoing inquest into the killing of 10 people in the Ballymurphy area of Belfast in 1971.

The episode, dubbed the "Ballymurphy massacre", began on 09 August when the British Army entered republican strongholds to arrest IRA suspects following the introduction of internment without trial by Stormont.

The Belfast Coroner's Court is examining the deaths of 10 civilians during that period. Counsel put to the Louth TD that he was a senior member of the IRA, who have been claimed to be in the area at the time, during the inquest hearing.

Mr Adams responded: "I was not a member of the IRA, I have never disassociated myself from the IRA and I never will until the day I die.

"I understand that victims of the IRA won't like what I am saying... I deeply regret there was a war."

He also praised the "maturity" of the organisation for embracing the peace process and "fading away".

Ahead of the hearing, Mr Adams said he was not a witness to any of the killings but was affected during the period.

He explained: "I did witness aspects of the events in that area following internment; including the courageous rescue by local people of one young boy who had been shot by a British soldier. My family home, from which my mother was evicted by the Paras, was also damaged beyond repair by them.

"I want to commend the enormous courage of all of the families who have campaigned for decades for truth and justice for their loved ones.

"In recent months they have had to listen to the evidence of many witnesses, including former British soldiers responsible for some of the deaths, who have described in chilling detail the killing of their loved ones. It has been a traumatic experience for the families." 



(JG/CM)