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Gerry Adams' IRA denial 'a lie', says veteran republican | Gerry Adams' IRA denial 'a lie', says veteran republican |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A veteran republican who helped found the Provisional IRA has said Gerry Adams was a member of the organisation and described his denials as "a lie". | A veteran republican who helped found the Provisional IRA has said Gerry Adams was a member of the organisation and described his denials as "a lie". |
Des Long has given an interview to BBC Spotlight as part of its series on the Troubles. | Des Long has given an interview to BBC Spotlight as part of its series on the Troubles. |
He claimed he attended meetings of the IRA's ruling executive with Mr Adams, who was there as "chairman of the army council". | He claimed he attended meetings of the IRA's ruling executive with Mr Adams, who was there as "chairman of the army council". |
Mr Adams has always maintained he was never in the IRA. | Mr Adams has always maintained he was never in the IRA. |
Mr Long's allegation is made in part two of Spotlight on The Troubles: A Secret History, which charts the IRA's campaign of violence through the 1970s. | Mr Long's allegation is made in part two of Spotlight on The Troubles: A Secret History, which charts the IRA's campaign of violence through the 1970s. |
He said: "The chairman of the army council would turn up to the executive meetings. We were meeting at least every four months." | He said: "The chairman of the army council would turn up to the executive meetings. We were meeting at least every four months." |
When asked who the chairman was, he replied: "Gerry Adams." | When asked who the chairman was, he replied: "Gerry Adams." |
It was then put to Mr Long that the former Sinn Féin president has repeatedly denied ever being in the IRA. | It was then put to Mr Long that the former Sinn Féin president has repeatedly denied ever being in the IRA. |
He replied: "I sat opposite him at meetings. This lie he comes out with, he was never in the IRA, that's a lie. | He replied: "I sat opposite him at meetings. This lie he comes out with, he was never in the IRA, that's a lie. |
"I'll probably get shot for saying it, but I'm saying it." | "I'll probably get shot for saying it, but I'm saying it." |
Mr Long fell out with Mr Adams in 1986 as part of a wider split within republicanism. | Mr Long fell out with Mr Adams in 1986 as part of a wider split within republicanism. |
The programme also uncovers secret army intelligence documents which state Mr Adams was a leading figure in the IRA. | The programme also uncovers secret army intelligence documents which state Mr Adams was a leading figure in the IRA. |
Lord Ramsbotham, a former army commander in Northern Ireland, said Mr Adams was "a strategic planner of the highest order". | Lord Ramsbotham, a former army commander in Northern Ireland, said Mr Adams was "a strategic planner of the highest order". |
Mr Adams, who is a TD for Louth, last denied he was in the IRA when he gave evidence at the Ballymurphy Inquest in May. | Mr Adams, who is a TD for Louth, last denied he was in the IRA when he gave evidence at the Ballymurphy Inquest in May. |
He declined to take part in the Spotlight programme. | He declined to take part in the Spotlight programme. |
Sinn Fein's Conor Murphy dismissed the comments by Des Long, who he called a "bitter opponent of Gerry Adams for 35 years (who) would have regarded (Adams) as a traitor". | |
"The allegations have been made over the years and have been consistently denied," Mr Murphy told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme. | |
"You have to look at the people who are making the allegations to see what their motivation is." | |
Episode Two of Spotlight on the Troubles: A Secret History will be shown Tuesday, 17 September at 21:00 BST on BBC One Northern Ireland and BBC Four. Episode One can be viewed now on the BBC iPlayer. | Episode Two of Spotlight on the Troubles: A Secret History will be shown Tuesday, 17 September at 21:00 BST on BBC One Northern Ireland and BBC Four. Episode One can be viewed now on the BBC iPlayer. |