https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-67486683
Lawyers for former Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams have asked a judge to throw out damage claims brought against the Provisional IRA (PIRA).
Victims of bombings in London and Manchester are suing Mr Adams and the PIRA for nominal damages of £1.
Legal arguments were outlined at a preliminary High Court hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice in London.
Mr Adams said claims against the PIRA should be struck out. The hearing is due to end on Wednesday.
The former Sinn Féin leader has consistently denied being a member of the Irish Republican Army (IRA).
John Clark, a victim of the Old Bailey bombing in March 1973, has brought forward the case alongside Jonathan Ganesh and Barry Laycock.
Mr Ganesh is a victim of the London Docklands bombing in February 1996.
Mr Laycock is a victim of the June 1996 Arndale shopping centre bombing in Manchester.
The head of Mr Adams’ legal team, Richard Hermer KC, said the case was “unusual”.
He told the court the PIRA was an “unincorporated association” which was “incapable in law of being sued”.
The conduct of the claim had also been “characterised by a significant number of procedural breaches and irregularities,” Mr Hermer added.
‘Individual and representative’
Anne Stud KC, legal representative for the three claimants, said each of the men alleged Mr Adams was “liable to them” as an individual for his role in the preparation and planning of the attacks, and as a “representative” for the PIRA.
“It is anticipated that [Mr Adams] will deny that he was ever a member of the (Provisional IRA),” she said in a written case outline.
“Although currently the court should note that it has no evidence upon which to base that conclusion there being no defence entered and no statement from [Mr Adams] setting out his account.”
Ms Stud said the case raises “important issues on access to justice” where claimants allege the “most heinous wrongdoing by an individual who they allege was a member of an organisation responsible for significant injury through terrorist means”.
Mr Hermer said nothing he said on behalf of Mr Adams was intended to “deny or minimise” the claimants’ experiences or suffering.
In a written case outline, he told the judge his client was “conscious that the claimants have suffered significantly” as a result of the bombings in which they were innocent victims.
Mr Hermer also did not argue entire claims made against Mr Adams should be struck out, but only “representative” aspects of claims.
by Gazmac_868855
10 comments
If the British army and RUC couldn’t torture it out of him, I’m not sure a court will get anywhere
Damages of a £1? What’s the fucking point
Why’s he asking? Sure he was never in it?
How can you sue an illegal organisation??
Aye Gerry, you were never a member of the RA, and I’m the artist formerly known as Prince.
Would they settle for 50p, out of court?
Canary Wharf and the Manchester bombings… has anyone ever suggested Adams was working at that low level within the IRA by the late 90s?
This idea of corporate responsibility in civil court for an proscribed, underground organisation is more than a little dubious. In what sense was Adams responsible for Manchester in 1996? Did he specifically plan and conceive of the attack? Did he organise the men and material involved? Was he entirely detached from the undertaking except to give the greenlight? Or was the IRA so compartmentalised that he only learned about the operation afterwards?
Even if you convinced a jury of Adams’ IRA membership, how do prove that he was anymore involved (or not) than any other alleged member of the IRA in the 1990s?
(That said the ’73 Old Bailey bombing was certainly Adams’ project, historically speaking. He actively planned and oversaw that operation. Claimants could score a win in civil court if they narrowed the focus to that.)
Gerry thinks he’s judge dreed,.
The Brit’s just changed the law recently to prevent republicans who were illegally interned from suing them. Wonder if Gerry can get the same privilege.
What is this world coming to? They’ll be trying to sue Timmy Mallet for 9/11 next.