Gerry Adams

When I see the likes of Adams and McGuiness strutting around like tinpot tyrants. I am so profoundly glad my Northern Irish catholic grandfather had the sense to join the army and get out of the country.

When he sent his wife and family back to Belfast for safety during the WW1, they were hounded out back to London because his wife was English. Nothing much has changed in 100 years.

I don't think the word grace is in their vocabulary.

Probably time he and McGuiness had the grace to step down perhaps?

thanks alternative

Documentary called The Disappeared on BBC Four Tomorrow (Nov5th). It investigates Gerry Adams possible involvement in the case of a woman killed and secretly buried.

Appreciate the explanation, alternative.

Didn't express myself well ffinnochio.

I meant that I felt sick at Gerry Adams attitude because he did nothing to stop the abuse and I will never forget the deterioration of the physical and mental health of the girl concerned.

In what capacity was it that you experienced feeling sick having worked with a girl who had been abused?

I sincerely hope you didn't display this reaction in your manner when you worked with her.

Thanks for the Gerry Adams transcript link iam64.

I feel sick having worked with a girl who had been abused. I'm glad that G A was shown in his true colours and hope that he was really humiliated, but despairing too that all over the world such men are able to gain political power.

mystery solved

A very good question. I intended the comment for the Russell Brand thread. Don't know how that happened.

Why revive the thread then after 2 weeks?

As soon as someone refers to another's point of view as a rant (or other similar derogatory terms) I just switch off.

I think it's unlikely the trial didn't go ahead without the family relationship being made known. Are you suggesting the press shouldn't report on family abuse? Silencing victims of family crimes is something that we should all oppose. This victim clearly didn't want anonymity and has already spoken to the media. The NI peace process is a separate issue.

I am64 It was Gerry Adams' brother who committed the crime. It was most likely the newspapers who highlighted the family relationship. Yes, of course the victim should have recourse to the law against the perpetrator.

Irresponsible press I say.

The NI peace is even more important than this paedophile being brought to justice. IMO. Hard though it is to compare one thing to the other.

Shades of Murdoch - he had some memory lapses too.

iam64 here's the Gerry Adams cross-examination transcript I've referred to:

news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/08_10_2013_cross_exam_gerry_adams.pdf

I won't hold my breath!

I agree. He didn't run the IRA single-handedly and certainly all the MPs who supported Blair have much to think about. I wonder if they do?

I thought as much. That seems to suggest, though, that GA is not the only politician who is prepared to kill when it suits their purpose.

You assume wrongly - my thoughts on the illegal war are on record.

Greatnan when only mentioned 'lie and bluster'and I was responding to that.

As for your comment about not many politicians ordering and sanctioning murder, I am assuming you don't count invading other countries and killing tens of thousands of innocent civilians!

Anniebach - the victim and her mother went to the police in 1987, when the child was 13 years old. Her father denied abusing her, there was no prosecution. In 2000, Liam confessed to his brother, Gerry Adams, that he had sexually abused his daughter. GA didn't make a statement to the police about this confession until 2009, by which time his niece had spoken about her abuse experience on tv. (information from BBC news page)

J08 - the victim brought this to light by going back to the police. She clearly didn't want to let it lie and the process must have been both exhausting and distressing for her, and her loved ones.

Yes, the peace in NI is important, but does that mean that a child who was first raped at the age of 4, should not be given the opportunity to see her abuser face justice.

We all have responsibilities to keep children safe, and to take appropriate action if we suspect/fear that they aren't. This discussion should encourage all of us to think carefully about how we would (or did) respond when something like this happens within our own families.

I hope that not many British MPs have ordered and/or sanctioned murder.

I wonder how his niece feels about her abuse being made public.