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Gerry Adams says he has no plans to step aside as Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams says he has no plans to step aside as Sinn Féin leader
(about 1 hour later)
The Sinn Féin president has issued a challenge to anyone within his party who wants to replace him as leader after a series of scandals including a paedophile brother, the IRA’s treatment of rape victim Mairia Cahill and his alleged links to one of the most notorious murders of the Troubles. The Sinn Féin president has issued a challenge to anyone within his party who wants to replace him as leader after a series of scandals, including a brother convicted as a paedophile, the IRA’s treatment of rape victim Mairia Cahill and his alleged links to one of the most notorious murders of the Troubles.
Gerry Adams confirmed in Dublin on Monday that he would stand for party president when Sinn Féin holds its Ard Fheis (annual conference) in the spring.Gerry Adams confirmed in Dublin on Monday that he would stand for party president when Sinn Féin holds its Ard Fheis (annual conference) in the spring.
After the party’s central ruling body ratified the agreement hammered out between Northern Ireland’s parties just before Christmas, Adams said: “I intend to stand again for party president, and anyone who wants to stand against me is very, very welcome to do that.”After the party’s central ruling body ratified the agreement hammered out between Northern Ireland’s parties just before Christmas, Adams said: “I intend to stand again for party president, and anyone who wants to stand against me is very, very welcome to do that.”
The Sinn Féin leader and deputy for Louth in the Dáil (Irish parliament) added: “We have work to do, given the multiplicity of challenges facing the party north and south; trying to oppose austerity in both states while pursuing a united Ireland project, and trying to make friends with our unionist neighbours. It needs a lot of young people but it also needs some experienced people as well.”The Sinn Féin leader and deputy for Louth in the Dáil (Irish parliament) added: “We have work to do, given the multiplicity of challenges facing the party north and south; trying to oppose austerity in both states while pursuing a united Ireland project, and trying to make friends with our unionist neighbours. It needs a lot of young people but it also needs some experienced people as well.”
Adams has been at the centre of power within Sinn Féin since 1983 and his position at the top has outlasted five Irish premiers, four British prime ministers and four US presidents.Adams has been at the centre of power within Sinn Féin since 1983 and his position at the top has outlasted five Irish premiers, four British prime ministers and four US presidents.
There has been some disquiet, albeit unnamed, within certain southern Sinn Féin circles that Adams has hindered the party’s attempts to boost middle class support in the Irish Republic.There has been some disquiet, albeit unnamed, within certain southern Sinn Féin circles that Adams has hindered the party’s attempts to boost middle class support in the Irish Republic.
Internal concern is focused on three main controversies: the way their president handled the republican movement’s approach to Cahill; how Adams knew that his brother Liam had abused his daughter Aine but continued for some time to tolerate him in the party, and allegations from former comrades that the Sinn Féin leader gave the order for the murder and secret burial of Jean McConville.Internal concern is focused on three main controversies: the way their president handled the republican movement’s approach to Cahill; how Adams knew that his brother Liam had abused his daughter Aine but continued for some time to tolerate him in the party, and allegations from former comrades that the Sinn Féin leader gave the order for the murder and secret burial of Jean McConville.
The latter case has haunted Adams’ political career since 1972, when the mother of 10 was kidnapped at gunpoint, driven across the Irish border, shot dead and then buried in secret. The widow has became the most famous of the “Disappeared” – about 16 victims the IRA accused of being informers who were secretly buried and not found until decades after their deaths. The latter case has haunted Adams’s political career since 1972, when the mother of 10 was kidnapped at gunpoint, driven across the Irish border, shot dead and then buried in secret. The widow has become the most famous of the “Disappeared” – about 16 victims the IRA accused of being informers who were secretly buried and not found until decades after their deaths.
The former West Belfast MP has consistently denied any involvement in the McConville scandal or of ever being in the IRA.The former West Belfast MP has consistently denied any involvement in the McConville scandal or of ever being in the IRA.
Adams’ internal defenders – the vast majority of the Sinn Féin membership – point out that despite a barrage of negative media publicity about his record the party continues to ride high in the Republic’s opinion polls. Two surveys in December found that Sinn Féin was the largest political party, though it could only come to power in the 2016 general election with the support of a range of independent politicians, who over recent months have formed the largest bloc in opinion polls. Adams’s internal defenders – the vast majority of the Sinn Féin membership – point out that despite a barrage of negative media publicity about his record the party continues to ride high in the Republic’s opinion polls. Two surveys in December found that Sinn Féin was the largest political party, though it could only come to power in the 2016 general election with the support of a range of independent politicians, who over recent months have formed the largest bloc in opinion polls.