Departing leader claims he knows how IRA victims feel
GERRY ADAMS has said he understands how victims of IRA violence feel, as he prepares to step aside after 34 years as leader of Sinn Fein.
Mr Adams, who will be 70 next year, said yesterday that those killed during the Troubles cannot be brought back, but that it is possible to ensure history is not repeated.
He said he and the late Martin McGuinness helped to bring about political change and that there is no reason for anyone else to die because of political conflict on the island of Ireland.
Mr Adams was speaking just hours after he told a Sinn Fein Ard Fheis that he will step down as party president next year and will not contest the next General Election in Ireland.
Some critics noted he failed to mention any victims of IRA violence during his speech.
Responding to the criticism, he 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 – and that will not bring back the dead – but one of the great achievements in Irish history – John Hume was there, others were there, but I and Martin McGuinness were there – was to bring about a peace process. We have to go forward.”
Mr Adams said he lost family members during the Troubles, that he himself had been shot and that his neighbours in Ballymurphy in West Belfast are still waiting for an inquest more than four decades after the Ballymurphy massacre.
“We can’t bring those folks back but what we can do is to ensure it never ever happens again,” Mr Adams said.
He added: “One of our second achievements has been to bring about democratic, peaceful means, bringing about political change that didn’t exist before so there is never ever going to be any reason, and it is my firm hope that hopefully no one else will die because of political conflict on this island.”
Mr Adams, who is one of the longest-serving party leaders in the world, said the next Sinn Fein president will be appointed through a democratic process at the Ard Fheis next year.
He told the annual conference: “Leadership means knowing when it is time for change and that time is now.”
The war is over... we have to go forward. Gerry Adams, leader of Sinn Fein.