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| Adams tells of father's sex abuse | Adams tells of father's sex abuse |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams has revealed that his late father subjected family members to emotional, physical and sexual abuse over many years. | Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams has revealed that his late father subjected family members to emotional, physical and sexual abuse over many years. |
| In a statement, Mr Adams said the family made the discovery about Gerry Snr in the 1990s and were still coming to terms with what had happened. | In a statement, Mr Adams said the family made the discovery about Gerry Snr in the 1990s and were still coming to terms with what had happened. |
| "This discovery and the abuse which preceded it have had a devastating impact on our entire family," he said. | "This discovery and the abuse which preceded it have had a devastating impact on our entire family," he said. |
| "We live with the consequences every single day." | "We live with the consequences every single day." |
| Mr Adams said the family had debated for some time whether or not make their father's abuse public. | |
| "We do so now in the hope that in time, this will assist the victims and survivors to come to terms with what happened and help them to move on from these dreadful events," he said. | |
| "All citizens need to be educated and children need to be listened to, empowered and protected. | "All citizens need to be educated and children need to be listened to, empowered and protected. |
| "Many people in other families have suffered from abuse. Our family knows how deeply hurtful and traumatic that can be. | "Many people in other families have suffered from abuse. Our family knows how deeply hurtful and traumatic that can be. |
| "No-one should have to deal with abuse or its consequences in isolation." | "No-one should have to deal with abuse or its consequences in isolation." |
| 'Denial' | |
| Speaking in an interview with Irish state broadcaster RTE on Sunday, Mr Adams said he was 50 when he found out his father had abused some of his own children. | |
| The Sinn Fein president said his father was in denial for many years about his actions and he eventually died "a lonely old man". | |
| He said the police were not involved because his father's victims did not want to contact them. | |
| Mr Adams also said all of the abuse was "historic" and no children were at risk when the abuse was eventually revealed. | |
| On Friday, Mr Adams appealed for his brother, Liam, to hand himself over to the police to answer allegations of sexual abuse. | On Friday, Mr Adams appealed for his brother, Liam, to hand himself over to the police to answer allegations of sexual abuse. |
| It is understood that an arrest warrant was issued for Liam Adams a year ago. | It is understood that an arrest warrant was issued for Liam Adams a year ago. |
| It was issued for failing to appear at a preliminary court hearing to answer questions about alleged sexual offences against his daughter, Aine Tyrell. | It was issued for failing to appear at a preliminary court hearing to answer questions about alleged sexual offences against his daughter, Aine Tyrell. |
| Ms Tyrell spoke publicly of her allegations against her father on UTV's Insight programme on Friday night. | Ms Tyrell spoke publicly of her allegations against her father on UTV's Insight programme on Friday night. |