Gerry Adams, 77, is being sued for symbolic damages of £1 by three survivors of IRA bomb plots: John Clark, a victim of the 1973 Old Bailey attack; Jonathan Ganesh, injured in the 1996 Docklands attack; and Barry Laycock, injured in the 1996 Manchester Arndale attack. The claimants allege Gerry Adams was 'directly responsible' for IRA decisions to place the bombs. Gerry Adams has always denied being a member of the IRA.
Former Director of Public Prosecutions Sir Max Hill KC has joined the legal team of the three men suing Gerry Adams. Sir Max Hill KC will cross-examine Gerry Adams for the first time in England about his alleged IRA membership. The three claimants are expected to call at least 10 witnesses, including former security forces personnel, who are expected to testify that Gerry Adams was a leading IRA figure.
Gerry Adams has been named as a leader of the IRA and a member of its ruling Army Council by numerous former members and security service personnel over the last 50 years. ' Gerry Adams was interned twice as a suspected member of the IRA in the 1970s, but has never been convicted of membership of the banned group. The legal basis for holding Gerry Adams personally responsible for the bombings has not been detailed.
The expected outcomes or potential consequences of this civil trial remain unclear.