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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Gerry Adams investigation by police 'not politically motivated', ombudsman says | Gerry Adams investigation by police 'not politically motivated', ombudsman says |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A recommendation not to 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 did not fully investigated 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 police probe into the allegations was conducted properly, it said. | A police probe into the allegations was conducted properly, it said. |
| The ombudsman, Dr Michael Maguire, said there were no signs of misconduct. | The ombudsman, Dr Michael Maguire, said there were no signs of misconduct. |
| He also said he had "found no evidence to indicate that [police officers'] thinking was influenced by who Mr Adams was". | He also said he had "found no evidence to indicate that [police officers'] thinking was influenced by who Mr Adams was". |
| The complaint was in relation to Mr Adams' evidence in the case of his brother, Liam. | 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. | Liam Adams was convicted in 2013 of raping his daughter, Áine Dalhstrom, over a six-year period beginning in the 1970s. |
| Confession | Confession |
| Mr Adams told the court during the trial that in 2000 his brother had admitted sexually abusing his daughter. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 | Precedent |
| It was an independent decision of the PPS that directed no prosecution of Mr Adams, Dr Maguire said. | 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. | 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". | 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. | 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 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." | "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." |