Adams retires with a message of hope
GERRY Adams, who has announced his retirement, yesterday said no one else should have to die over political conflict in Ireland.
The Sinn Fein leader of 34 years paid tribute to those on all sides who worked on the peace process.
And he said though those killed during the Troubles cannot be brought back, it is possible to ensure history is not repeated. Adams, who will be 70 next year, was speaking hours after he told a Sinn Fein conference in Dublin that he will step down as party president next year.
He addressed criticism that he had not mentioned IRA violence during his speech at the conference.
Adams said: “There have been many victims. I have a particular affinity with those who were victims of the IRA because obviously throughout my political life I have defended the IRA.
“But I understand how people feel.”
He added: “The war is over. One of the great achievements … was to bring about a peace process.”
Adams, who lost family members in the Troubles, went on: “We can’t bring those folks back but what we can do is to ensure it never ever happens again.
“It is my firm hope that hopefully no one else will die because of political conflict on this island.”
Adams, who will also not contest another Irish election, said the next Sinn Fein president will be appointed at the party’s conference next year.