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| Brian Farmer |
Three mainland bombing victims have accused former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams of seeking to “close down any public hearing in which his membership of the Provisional Irish Republican Army might be evidenced and established”.
John Clark, a victim of the March 1973 Old Bailey bombing in London; Jonathan Ganesh, a victim of the February 1996 London Docklands bombing; and Barry Laycock, victim of the June 1996 Arndale shopping centre bombing in Manchester, have sued Mr Adams and the Provisional IRA and want “nominal” – £1 – damages.
A barrister leading Mr Adams’s legal team told a High Court judge in London on Tuesday that damages claims brought against the Provisional IRA should be struck out.
But a barrister leading the three claimants’ legal team argued Mr Adams’s application to strike out the claims against the Provisional IRA should be dismissed and said a trial should be progressed.
Mr Justice Soole is considering Mr Adams’s application at a High Court hearing in the Royal Courts of Justice complex.
The hearing is due to end on Wednesday and the judge is expected to deliver a ruling in the near future.
But a barrister leading the three claimants’ legal team argued Mr Adams’s application to strike out the claims against the Provisional IRA should be dismissed and said a trial should be progressed.
Mr Justice Soole is considering Mr Adams’s application at a High Court hearing in the Royal Courts of Justice complex.
The hearing is due to end on Wednesday and the judge is expected to deliver a ruling in the near future.
Continue reading @ Belfast Telegraph.
"She said there is “considerable” public interest in letting the three men try to demonstrate that Mr Adams should be “regarded” as a “representative” of the Provisional IRA."
ReplyDeleteBe interesting if they could get someone from the British Government on the stand to explain exactly why Adams was one of the Republican leadership flown over for talks in the 70's.
The article brought back memories, I was sent over to Arndale for the clean up.
Like Steve says would be interesting to see who they can call as witnesses and if any intelligence files in play. Especially alleging he was aware or involved in "given the part he played in the preparation and planning of the attacks". That is a non-runner I'd expect unless there is evidence on specific attacks. The overall case appears to be a quasi-internal criminal court approach which could trip them up. For example, given that the IRA was an unlawful organization it does not have legal personality to be sued like a registered corporate business might, but leaders of non-state paramilitary organizations could go before the ICC. I think the claim for £1 suggests the arguments might be only academic and could fall for that reason. Maybe we will see if they have more meat to put on the bones.
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