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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Adams' brother employers hit out | Adams' brother employers hit out |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A community project which employed Gerry Adams' brother has criticised the authorities for not telling them about sexual abuse allegations against him. | A community project which employed Gerry Adams' brother has criticised the authorities for not telling them about sexual abuse allegations against him. |
| Liam Adams worked for the Beechmount Community Project as a youth development officer from 2004 to 2006. | Liam Adams worked for the Beechmount Community Project as a youth development officer from 2004 to 2006. |
| He faces allegations that he abused his daughter when she was a child. | He faces allegations that he abused his daughter when she was a child. |
| Beechmount Community Project said he had been cleared to work with children and that the police and social services had "serious questions" to answer. | Beechmount Community Project said he had been cleared to work with children and that the police and social services had "serious questions" to answer. |
| A warrant is outstanding for Liam Adams' arrest, to face allegations that he sexually abused Aine Tyrell when she was a young child. | A warrant is outstanding for Liam Adams' arrest, to face allegations that he sexually abused Aine Tyrell when she was a young child. |
| Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams has called for him to hand over himself to the authorities. | Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams has called for him to hand over himself to the authorities. |
| It has emerged that Liam Adams worked with children in a number of roles for almost 20 years after his daughter and her mother reported him to the police in 1987. | It has emerged that Liam Adams worked with children in a number of roles for almost 20 years after his daughter and her mother reported him to the police in 1987. |
| A spokesperson for the Beechmount Community Project, for which Liam Adams worked between November 2004 and May 2006, said: "We have never received any complaint from any child, young person or their parent, or staff member, with respect to Liam Adams and his period of employment here within our project. | A spokesperson for the Beechmount Community Project, for which Liam Adams worked between November 2004 and May 2006, said: "We have never received any complaint from any child, young person or their parent, or staff member, with respect to Liam Adams and his period of employment here within our project. |
| "Nevertheless, we feel that serious lapses by both the Social Services and the police have inexcusably put children and young people within our project at risk." | "Nevertheless, we feel that serious lapses by both the Social Services and the police have inexcusably put children and young people within our project at risk." |
| Liam Adams was also employed as a part-time youth worker at Clonard Youth Centre in west Belfast between 1998 and 2003. | Liam Adams was also employed as a part-time youth worker at Clonard Youth Centre in west Belfast between 1998 and 2003. |
| Clearance | Clearance |
| The Sinn Fein president has said he told staff there about the allegations against his brother. | The Sinn Fein president has said he told staff there about the allegations against his brother. |
| "When I discovered in the Belfast situation that he was working in a youth facility I went to those who had responsibility for that facility and told them of the allegation," Mr Adams said. | "When I discovered in the Belfast situation that he was working in a youth facility I went to those who had responsibility for that facility and told them of the allegation," Mr Adams said. |
| "He also had RUC or PSNI clearance to work in those facilities. I also pressed Liam to come out of it and in the second case he did what I demanded of him." | |
| It is thought the reference to a "second case" may be to his brother's time working at the Beechmount Community Project. | |
| Clonard Youth Centre has issued a statement, making clear it was unaware of any allegations against Liam Adams when he worked there. | |
| Spokesperson Brendan Dineen said the centre had reviewed all its documentation "and there is no record whatsoever regarding concerns about Mr Liam Adams during his time of employment at Clonard Youth Centre." | |
| "If we had been aware of allegations that have recently come to light, he would not have been employed at the centre," he continued. | "If we had been aware of allegations that have recently come to light, he would not have been employed at the centre," he continued. |
| "There have been very stringent policies and procedures in place since the establishment of the club with no incidents of wrongdoing reported." | "There have been very stringent policies and procedures in place since the establishment of the club with no incidents of wrongdoing reported." |
| Responsibility | |
| Gerry Adams has also raised questions about the police and social services and how they vetted his brother. | |
| He said: "I don't for a second absolve myself from any mistakes that I might have made in terms of how I have handled this. | |
| "But the responsibility lies in the first place with Liam. That's the first issue that we have to be very clear about and the second responsibility lies with those who are charged with dealing with those issues when they are brought to their attention." | |
| He added: "The only questions being asked of anybody in this whole affair is me - there are no questions being asked of the social services, no questions being asked about the police." | |
| The Belfast Health and Social Care Trust said it had no comment to make on Mr Adams's claims while the police said it did not discuss vetting procedures. |