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Public Prosecution Service of Northern Ireland v. Liam Adams

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Public Prosecution Service of Northern Ireland v. Liam Adams was a criminal case relating to allegations of child abuse made in 2009[1] against Liam Adams, brother of Irish politician Gerry Adams. Liam Adams was found guilty in October 2013 of 10 offences, and was sentenced in November 2013 to 16 years in prison.

UTV Insight Special

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In December 2009, a UTV Insight Special programme alleged that Liam Adams had sexually abused his daughter, Áine Tyrell, for a decade. In response, his brother Gerry Adams urged Liam to turn himself in to the police.[2][3] Gerry also alleged that his deceased father, Gerry Adams, Sr., had subjected family members to emotional, physical and sexual abuse.[4][5] The Police Service of Northern Ireland issued a European Arrest Warrant for Liam Adams’ arrest.[6]

Extradition request

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In December 2009, Liam Adams presented himself at a Garda Síochána police station in Sligo. They were not able to arrest him as they did not have the necessary European Arrest Warrant. Adams did not wish to hand himself into police in Northern Ireland, citing unfairness.[7]

On 3 March 2010, the High Court in Dublin endorsed the European Arrest Warrant, which was issued in Liam Adams' name by the Serious Organised Crime Agency.[8] The following day, Adams handed himself over to the authorities in the Republic.[8]

Adams opposed his extradition.[9] At a brief hearing on 21 July, Adams applied for legal aid to help fight the extradition.[10]

On 3 October 2011, an Irish High Court judge in Dublin declined Liam Adams' objections to the extradition request and said he would issue an order for Adams to surrender to the authorities in Northern Ireland. On 18 October 2011, after losing his appeal against extradition, Adams was remanded in custody for 15 days to a Dublin prison.[11] He was handed over to officers from the PSNI at the border on the night of 2 November, and brought to Laganside Magistrates Court on the morning of 3 November, where he was remanded in custody for a week.[12]

Trials

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There were two trials; the first collapsed in April 2013 for legal reasons.[13]

Verdict

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In October 2013 Liam Adams was found guilty of ten offences, including rape and gross indecency committed against his daughter between 1977 and 1983 when she was four to nine.[13][14][15]

On 27 November 2013, Adams was jailed for 16 years with a further two years probation.[16] He died in prison 25 February 2019.[17]

References

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  1. ^ "... in favour of Gerry Adams resigning as Sinn Féin president ..." - survey". RTÉ. 13 February 2010. Retrieved 4 March 2010.
  2. ^ "Adams' brother sought over alleged abuse". RTÉ News. 18 December 2009. Retrieved 4 March 2010.
  3. ^ McDonald, Henry (18 December 2009). "Gerry Adams urges brother to face child sex charges". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 4 March 2010.
  4. ^ "Sinn Féin's Gerry Adams reveals family abuse history". BBC News. 20 December 2009. Retrieved 20 December 2009.
  5. ^ "Adams reveals family history of abuse". RTÉ News. 21 December 2009. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  6. ^ "European arrest warrant sent for Liam Adams". The Irish Times. 5 February 2010. Retrieved 4 March 2010.
  7. ^ "Liam Adams 'will not return to NI'". The Irish Times. 24 December 2009. Retrieved 7 February 2010.
  8. ^ a b "Adams To Appeal Extradition". 4ni.co.uk. 6 October 2011. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
  9. ^ "Gerry Adams' brother Liam hands himself in to police". BBC News. 4 March 2010. Retrieved 4 March 2010.
  10. ^ "Liam Adams bids for legal aid to fund media transcripts". BBC News. 21 July 2010. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
  11. ^ "Liam Adams loses extradition appeal". The Irish Times. 19 October 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
  12. ^ "Liam Adams refused bail in Belfast". RTÉ News. 3 November 2011. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
  13. ^ a b "Liam Adams convicted of raping and abusing daughter". BBC News. 1 October 2013. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  14. ^ McDonald, Henry (1 October 2013). "Liam Adams found guilty of raping his eldest daughter". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  15. ^ Breen, Suzanne (27 November 2013). "Liam Adams: Sordid episode has left Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams politically toxic". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  16. ^ "Liam Adams jailed for raping and abusing daughter". BBC News. 27 November 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  17. ^ Carroll, Rory (25 February 2019). "Liam Adams, brother of ex-Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams, dies". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
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