This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-24446037

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Gerry Adams: 'I know I committed no offence' over abuse case Police and Gerry Adams 'let down abuse victim' says Poots
(about 2 hours later)
Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has said he knows he "committed no offence" over his brother Liam's abuse case. Northern Ireland Health Minister Edwin Poots has said abuse victim Áine Adams was let down by the RUC, by her uncle Gerry Adams and by the PSNI.
Liam Adams was convicted last week of raping and abusing his daughter, Áine, over a six-year period in the 1970s. Gerry Adams' brother Liam was convicted last week of raping and abusing his daughter, Áine, in the 1970s.
Northern Ireland's attorney general is to review a decision not to prosecute Gerry Adams for allegedly withholding information on his brother. Speaking during NI Assembly question time, Mr Poots welcomed the conviction of Liam Adams, but said the PSNI had questions to answer.
Gerry Adams said he had co-operated fully with the police, the Public Prosecution Service and the courts. Earlier, Gerry Adams said he knew he had committed no offence over the case.
"I know that I committed no offence and I know that I did what I considered to be the right thing and that I co-operated fully with the PSNI, with the PPS, with the courts, that I gave evidence in the courts," he said. Northern Ireland's attorney general is to review a decision not to prosecute him for allegedly withholding information on his brother.
However, Mr Adams, the leader of Sinn Féin, said he had co-operated fully with the police, the Public Prosecution Service and the courts.
'Zero tolerance'
During Assembly question time, Mr Poots said he believed the Police Ombudsman should examine the PSNI's handling of the matter.
Mr Poots also said there should be "zero tolerance" for those who cover up child abuse.
The health minister challenged Sinn Féin members who called for Irish Catholic Primate Cardinal Sean Brady to resign over clerical abuse "to step up to the mark today".
Liam Adams was convicted of abusing his daughter over a six-year period.
At the first trial in April, Gerry Adams said his brother admitted that he had sexually abused Áine Adams. He made the admission during a "walk in the rain" in Dundalk, County Louth, in 2000, Gerry Adams said.
Gerry Adams said that, during the encounter in Dundalk, his brother, while admitting molestation or sexual interference or assault, did not admit rape.
The Sinn Féin president made his first report to the police about the allegations in 2007, shortly after his party voted to accept the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
Earlier, Gerry Adams said: "I know that I committed no offence and I know that I did what I considered to be the right thing and that I co-operated fully with the PSNI, with the PPS, with the courts, that I gave evidence in the courts," he said.
"So I don't have any concerns about that."So I don't have any concerns about that.
"I obviously am concerned that as members of my family pick up the newspapers this morning, and on the back of this press conference will pick up the newspapers tomorrow morning, and wonder why there is such an inordinate attention on this and on me."I obviously am concerned that as members of my family pick up the newspapers this morning, and on the back of this press conference will pick up the newspapers tomorrow morning, and wonder why there is such an inordinate attention on this and on me.
"So that's my primary concern, my primary concern isn't about me.""So that's my primary concern, my primary concern isn't about me."
He said he took exception "to a quite despicable lobby that's going on" over the case and said there was "quite contrived reaction in some quarters".He said he took exception "to a quite despicable lobby that's going on" over the case and said there was "quite contrived reaction in some quarters".
"I learned that the DUP, at least some of the DUP, and indeed some in Fianna Fail, are coming at this in a political way," he said. "I learned that the DUP, at least some of the DUP, and indeed some in Fiánna Fail, are coming at this in a political way," he said.
It is believed the matter will be raised at Northern Ireland Assembly question time later.
It is thought likely that Health Minister Edwin Poots, of the DUP, will call for the police ombudsman to examine the police's handling of the case.