Court grants Adams bail on sexual abuse charges
The High Court has this evening granted bail to Liam Adams whose extradition is being sought by the authorities in Northern Ireland on charges that he sexaully abused one of his daughters more than 25 years ago.
Liam Dominic Adams (aged 54) is wanted by the authorities in Northern Ireland on a total of 18 charges of sexual assault on his daughter. The charges included five counts of rape, seven of indecent assault and six counts of gross indeceny towards a child.
Mr Adams, who denies all the charges against him, is a brother of the Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams. The Court heard that Mr Adams, as a result of the publiciity the allegations against him have recieved, fears that he would not receive a fair trial in Northern Ireland.
In a European Extradition Warrant seeking his surrender it is claimed that the offences took place at various addresses in Belfast between March 1977 and March 1983 when the alleged victim was aged between four and 10 years of age.
Today at the Four Courts the President of the High Court Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns granted Mr Adams, who is unemployed, bail on the grounds that the allegations against Mr Adams are said to have occurred some time ago and because he had made arrangements to meet with Gardaí on two previous occasions.
Bail was granted on terms including that Mr Adams would sign on daily with the Gardaí and reside at an address in the jurisdiction not disclosed in open court. Two independent case sureties of €7,500 are also to be provided from a friend of Mr Adams and one of his children.
Mr Adams would also have to surrender his passport and undertake to carry his mobile phone at all times in case the Gardaí need to contact him. The judge also remanded Mr Adams to appear before the court next Wednesday.
The court also heard that the European Arrest Warrant seeking Mr Adams' extradition was endorsed at the High Court in Dublin yesterday.
Mr Adams, with an address at Bernagh Drive, Belfast, Northern Ireland told the court he left Northern Ireland because he was afraid that due to the publicity the allegations had received he could not get a fair trial. He said he left the North after an article appeared about him in the Sunday World Newspaper.
Mr Adams also told the court that he and his family had been treated "disgracefully by the media."
The court also heard from Remy Farrell Bl for the State that the Gardaí had strong concerns, but did not object, to Mr Adams being granted bail on grounds including the seriousness of the allegations against Mr Adams.
Giving details of arrest Detective Sergeant Jim Kirwan told the court that he arrested Mr Adams at the Bridewell Station in Dublin after meeting him by arrangement on Thursday afternoon.
Sgt Kirwan told counsel that when Mr Adams was asked if he knew about the charges contained in the warrant he said "Yes, I read about them in the papers".
Sgt Kirwan said that he was asked by Mr Adams when the allegations against him are said to have occurred. The Gardaí replied between March 1977 and March 1983. The Garda said that Mr Adams then said "I just want to say that I am not guilty of that".
