Northern Ireland

Civil action against Gerry Adams set to be heard in London in 2026

The case is being taken by three IRA bomb victims

Former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams was among the mourners .
Former Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams (Brian lawless/PA)

Former Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams is expected to give evidence in his own defence in a civil action being taken by three IRA bomb victims.

The case, which is due to last seven days, is expected to come before the courts in 2026.

The BBC reported that a case management hearing was held at the Royal Courts of Justice in London on Monday.

Mr Adams, who denies ever being a member of the IRA, is being sued for symbolic damages of £1 for “vindicatory purposes”.

The BBC has reported the case is being taken by John Clark, who was caught up in the 1973 Old Bailey explosion, justice campaigner Jonathan Ganesh, who was hurt in 1996 in the London Docklands bombing and Barry Laycock, who was injured in the attack on Manchester’s Arndale Shopping Centre.

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The three men allege Mr Adams “acted with others in furtherance of a common design to bomb the British mainland” and was “directly responsible” in various roles within the IRA for decisions made to place devices in 1973 and 1996.

Matthew Jury, a solicitor for the three claimants, said they will produce evidence from almost a dozen witnesses, including former IRA members and ex-security forces personnel.

He said Mr Adams would be the only witness appearing on behalf of the defence.

“Finally after five decades, for the first time (Mr) Adams will appear in person in an English court to be cross-examined by the victims of his alleged leadership of the IRA’s terror campaign,” said Mr Jury.

The case is being financed by crowd-funding.