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PPS 'right' not to prosecute Gerry Adams for withholding abuse knowledge PPS 'right' not to prosecute Gerry Adams for withholding knowledge of abuse
(35 minutes later)
Gerry Adams will not be prosecuted for withholding information about his niece being sexually abused by his brother Liam, it has been confirmed.Gerry Adams will not be prosecuted for withholding information about his niece being sexually abused by his brother Liam, it has been confirmed.
Northern Ireland’s attorney general concluded on Tuesday that the Public Prosecution Service’s original decision not to prosecute the Sinn Féin leader over claims Adams knew about the abuse since 1987 was correct based on the evidence available.Northern Ireland’s attorney general concluded on Tuesday that the Public Prosecution Service’s original decision not to prosecute the Sinn Féin leader over claims Adams knew about the abuse since 1987 was correct based on the evidence available.
But John Larkin QC said the PPS could have done more to get Gerry Adams questioned under caution by police about his knowledge of the abuse and incest.But John Larkin QC said the PPS could have done more to get Gerry Adams questioned under caution by police about his knowledge of the abuse and incest.
On the back of Larkin’s recommendations, contained in a 49-page report, the PPS in the region added that there was now “insufficient evidence to meet the test of evidence” required for prosecuting Gerry Adams.On the back of Larkin’s recommendations, contained in a 49-page report, the PPS in the region added that there was now “insufficient evidence to meet the test of evidence” required for prosecuting Gerry Adams.
Larkin launched his report after it emerged during the trial of Liam Adams that the Sinn Féin president did not inform police for nine years that his brother had confessed to him about the sexual abuse of his daughter Aine Dahlstrom. Larkin launched his report after it emerged during the trial of Liam Adams that the Sinn Féin president did not inform police for nine years that his brother had confessed to him about the sexual abuse of his daughter Áine Dahlstrom.
Section 5 of the 1967 Criminal Law Act in Northern Ireland places a duty on everyone to report to the police information they may have about the commission of a relevant offence, ie one with a maximum sentence of five years or more. Section 5 of the 1967 Criminal Law Act (Northern Ireland) places a duty on everyone to report to the police information they may have if a relevant offence – ie one with a maximum sentence of five years or more – has been committed.
The PPS examined whether Gerry Adams had been guilty of breaching section 5 of the act by failing to report the crime for which his brother was convicted in 2013. Last month Liam Adams failed in his appeal against his conviction and 16-year sentence for raping and abusing his daughter.The PPS examined whether Gerry Adams had been guilty of breaching section 5 of the act by failing to report the crime for which his brother was convicted in 2013. Last month Liam Adams failed in his appeal against his conviction and 16-year sentence for raping and abusing his daughter.
The region’s chief law officer was investigating the PPS’s original decision not to prosecute Gerry Adams for withholding information about a crime. The PPS is headed by the Sinn Féin chief’s former solicitor Barra McGrory. After criticism of that original decision, McGrory ordered an independent inquiry by the attorney general’s office in Belfast and resigned from all further decision-making in the case.The region’s chief law officer was investigating the PPS’s original decision not to prosecute Gerry Adams for withholding information about a crime. The PPS is headed by the Sinn Féin chief’s former solicitor Barra McGrory. After criticism of that original decision, McGrory ordered an independent inquiry by the attorney general’s office in Belfast and resigned from all further decision-making in the case.
In his report, the attorney general does single out the PPS in Northern Ireland for criticism over not acting to have Gerry Adams questioned under caution by police relating to his knowledge of the crime since 1987. In a television interview, Gerry Adams admitted his brother had informed him about the abuse that year. Gerry Adams later gave evidence against his brother in court.In his report, the attorney general does single out the PPS in Northern Ireland for criticism over not acting to have Gerry Adams questioned under caution by police relating to his knowledge of the crime since 1987. In a television interview, Gerry Adams admitted his brother had informed him about the abuse that year. Gerry Adams later gave evidence against his brother in court.
In his report, Larkin concluded: “While the role of the PPS is not to investigate crime, I consider that there was sufficient information regarding Gerry Adams’s state of knowledge to at least merit obtaining a further statement from Aine Dahlstrom (née Adams) concerning the issue of what she told her uncle. In his report, Larkin concluded: “While the role of the PPS is not to investigate crime, I consider that there was sufficient information regarding Gerry Adams’s state of knowledge to at least merit obtaining a further statement from Áine Dahlstrom (née Adams) concerning the issue of what she told her uncle. I have little doubt that had the only offence under consideration been the section 5 offence a decision information request would have issued the police asking that this course be taken.
“Furthermore, if such as statement were to have confirmed that Aine Dahlstrom was robustly asserting that she had been raped, it seems to me unlikely that a decision in respect of the evidential sub-test could have been made in advance of Gerry Adams being interviewed under caution by the police. “Furthermore, if such a statement were to have confirmed that Áine Dahlstrom was robustly asserting that she had been raped, it seems to me unlikely that a decision in respect of the evidential sub-test could have been made in advance of Gerry Adams being interviewed under caution by the police.
“In short, while the PPS may have been correct in asserting that the evidential test for prosecution was not met on the basis of the evidence on the police file, there was certainly sufficient evidence to suggest that the evidential test might well ultimately be met and that any doubt ... could have been resolved, in particular, by taking clarificatory statements from Aine Dahlstrom and Sarah Campbell (her mother), and if necessary by asking the police to interview Gerry Adams under caution.” “In short, while the PPS may have been correct in asserting that the evidential test for prosecution was not met on the basis of the evidence on the police file, there was certainly sufficient evidence to suggest that the evidential test might well ultimately be met and that any doubt ... could have been resolved, in particular, by taking clarificatory statements from Áine Dahlstrom and Sarah Campbell (her mother), and if necessary by asking the police to interview Gerry Adams under caution.”
In the light of Larkin’s main conclusions, the PPS’s deputy director in Northern Ireland, Pamela Atchison, said: “I can confirm that the PPS has completed its own review of that decision. This has included meeting with the principal witness, Mrs Dahlstrom, who has authorised the PPS to confirm that she has nothing further to add to her statements and that she does not wish to see this matter pursued any further.In the light of Larkin’s main conclusions, the PPS’s deputy director in Northern Ireland, Pamela Atchison, said: “I can confirm that the PPS has completed its own review of that decision. This has included meeting with the principal witness, Mrs Dahlstrom, who has authorised the PPS to confirm that she has nothing further to add to her statements and that she does not wish to see this matter pursued any further.
“Accordingly, we have concluded that there is insufficient evidence to meet the test for prosecution in this case.”“Accordingly, we have concluded that there is insufficient evidence to meet the test for prosecution in this case.”
Gerry Adams has had to face down claims that he continued to promote his brother within Sinn Féin long after their meeting in Co Donegal in 1987 when Liam Adams confessed to sexually abusing Aine. Gerry Adams has had to face down claims that he continued to promote his brother within Sinn Féin long after their meeting in Co Donegal in 1987 when Liam Adams confessed to sexually abusing Áine.
After Liam Adams’s conviction it emerged that he continued to be active within Sinn Féin after 1987, including being photographed with Gerry during an Irish general election campaign in the 1990s. This appeared to contradict Gerry Adams’s claims that he disowned his brother after the 1987 confession. After the conviction of Liam Adams it emerged that he continued to be active within Sinn Féin after 1987, including being photographed with Gerry during an Irish general election campaign in the 1990s. This appeared to contradict Gerry Adams’s claims that he disowned his brother after the 1987 confession.