Judiciary can make mistakes, Gerry Adams says

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams insisted the judiciary can make mistakes as he was answering questions about the conviction of Thomas 'Slab' Murphy'.

Mr Adams stood by his comments that Mr Murphy, convicted of tax evasion, was a good republican and was entitled to a trial by his peers.

The Louth TD said: "Do I think judges can't make mistakes? No I don't. I think judges can make mistakes.

“The certainty for citizens is that we are tried by our peers. That is the safest process. Juries can make mistakes aswell.”

Mr Adams said he did not know if Mr Murphy was a member of the Irish Republican Army and these were all questions for him.

He said he did not accept the claim that if you were involved with the IRA you were a criminal.

Mr Adams said: “I don’t believe that people who were involved in the IRA, if he was in the IRA, are criminals.”

Speaking at Leinster House, Mr Adams insisted he had not spoken to Mr Murphy since his conviction last week.

The Sinn Fein leader denied this had caused a split within the party and said any reports of a divide was "wishful thinking".