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Gerry Adams investigation by police 'conducted properly', ombudsman says Gerry Adams investigation by police 'not politically motivated', ombudsman says
(about 1 hour later)
A police probe into allegations that Gerry Adams had withheld information on sexual abuse within his family was conducted properly, a report has found. A recommendation not prosecute Gerry Adams over allegations he withheld information on sexual abuse within his family was not politically motivated, a police watchdog has found.
The Police Ombudsman launched an inquiry after a complaint was made that police had failed to fully investigate claims against the Sinn Féin president. The Police Ombudsman launched an inquiry after a complaint was made that police did not fully investigated claims against the Sinn Féin president.
A recommendation not to prosecute him was not politically motivated, it said. A police probe into the allegations was conducted properly, it said.
The ombudsman said he "found no evidence of misconduct concerning any of the officers involved". The ombudsman, Dr Michael Maguire, said there were no signs of misconduct.
The complaint was in relation to Mr Adams' evidence in the case of his brother. He also said he had "found no evidence to indicate that [police officers'] thinking was influenced by who Mr Adams was".
Liam Adams was convicted in 2013 of raping his daughter, Áine, in the 1970s. The complaint was in relation to Mr Adams' evidence in the case of his brother, Liam.
Liam Adams was convicted in 2013 of raping his daughter, Áine Dalhstrom, over a six-year period beginning in the 1970s.
Confession
Mr Adams told the court during the trial that in 2000 his brother had admitted sexually abusing his daughter.
Mr Adams made his first report to police about the allegations in 2007, detailing that he had been made aware of the abuse by his niece and her mother.
But did not tell officers about the confession until 2009, when he made a second statement.
Dr Maguire said it was clear that Mr Adams did not report either conversation immediately to the police.
A detective advised that there was insufficient evidence to support any prosecution, and that was supported by a detective chief inspector.
Police then sought advice from a senior member of staff at the Public Prosecution Service, and were advised that the case did not meet the legal definition of withholding information.
Precedent
It was an independent decision of the PPS that directed no prosecution of Mr Adams, Dr Maguire said.
He added that he found no evidence that the recommendation by police not to prosecute Mr Adams was politically motivated.
The recommendation "followed from an appropriate interpretation of the law, as well as some concern over the precedent which such a prosecution could set".
Last month, a review by Northern Ireland's attorney general concluded that it was not in the public interest to prosecute Mr Adams.
The issue of sexual abuse was a sensitive one, he said.
"The officers were cognisant of how important it is for relatives to come forward with information which may assist in the prosecution of such allegations of historic sexual abuse."