IRA Bombing Victims Withdraw Damages Lawsuit Against Gerry Adams

Three IRA bombing victims withdrew their damages claim against Gerry Adams on the final day of a two-week trial at the High Court in London. The plaintiffs discontinued the action on Friday. Their lawyers told the court the move followed developments that emerged overnight.

Details of the claim

The claimants sought a nominal £1 in damages. They aimed to establish, on the balance of probabilities, that Gerry Adams was personally liable as a senior member of the Provisional IRA.

The three men were injured in separate attacks. John Clark was hurt in the 1973 Old Bailey bombing. Jonathan Ganesh and Barry Laycock were injured in the 1996 London Docklands and Manchester Arndale bombings respectively.

Court announcement and legal teams

Anne Studd KC, representing the victims, told the High Court the claim would be discontinued with no order as to costs. She said the decision followed overnight developments in the proceedings.

Edward Craven KC, barrister for Gerry Adams, had argued the evidence against his client was very limited. He described parts of the claim as bordering on non-existent.

Positions and arguments presented

The claimants said none of the bombings occurred without Adams’ knowledge or agreement. They added they had delayed legal action because they did not know claims were possible.

They also cited financial barriers, ongoing physical or mental injuries, and fear of violent reprisals as reasons for the delay.

Defence and wider context

Gerry Adams denied any involvement or advance knowledge of the attacks. He told the court he was glad the IRA had left the stage and said he had no part in those bombings.

Adams led Sinn Féin from 1983 until 2018. He has long faced allegations of IRA membership, which he has consistently rejected.

Aftermath and reactions

Adams welcomed the discontinuation. He said the outcome brought a final end to litigation he believed should not have been pursued.

His legal team had also argued the case risked becoming a public inquiry by other means. They suggested that might amount to an abuse of the court process and that the claims were time-barred.

Filmogaz.com will follow any further legal developments in the matter involving IRA bombing victims, the withdrawn damages lawsuit, and Gerry Adams.