Former Officer Testifies on Gerry Adams' Role in IRA
A former Northern Ireland police officer involved in intelligence work has described Gerry Adams as "a very formidable opponent" during his tenure as the IRA's "de facto" leader.
Known as Witness B, the officer has been providing evidence against the former Sinn Féin leader at the High Court in London.
Adams, aged 77, faces a lawsuit filed by John Clark, Jonathan Ganesh, and Barry Laycock, who sustained injuries in IRA bombings in London and Manchester in 1973 and 1996.
Adams firmly denies any involvement and has consistently rejected allegations of IRA membership. He is scheduled to give testimony next week.
The claimants are seeking "vindicatory" damages amounting to £1, asserting that Adams is personally liable for decisions to plant the bombs.
Witness Identity and Background
Witness B testified from behind a screen after the court ordered his identity to remain confidential.
He served in the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) special branch starting in 1979.
Based on intelligence he reviewed, Witness B alleged that Adams was a senior member of the IRA army council and functioned as the "de facto" leader of the IRA.
Assessment of Adams' Role
When asked why Adams was not arrested, Witness B responded:
"He wouldn't answer any questions so what would have been the purpose of arresting him?"
He characterized Adams as "a very formidable opponent" and "a strategic thinker."
Witness B recalled the London Docklands bomb in February 1996, which ended the first IRA ceasefire, stating it "was a great shock."
Although the RUC anticipated the ceasefire might break, the bombing "took us all by surprise."
Intelligence Findings
In his witness statement, Witness B wrote:
"Much of the intelligence I had access to led me to conclude that the defendant (Adams) was undoubtedly a member of the army council for the period encompassing the 1980s and 1990s.
All the intelligence I saw pointed to his membership and leadership within the IRA."
The statement continued:
"It is my certain knowledge, based on the materials I had access to at the time... that the bomb at Canary Wharf on 9 February 1996 was not simply sanctioned by the army council but was ordered by the army council.
It is inconceivable that such an action would be carried out without its explicit orders.
The defendant was at that time very much the first among equals on the army council of the IRA."
