Adams takes death threat `seriously'

Dissident republicans along the Border have denied plans to assassinate Mr Gerry Adams

Dissident republicans along the Border have denied plans to assassinate Mr Gerry Adams. Sinn Fein yesterday said the RUC had told the party's president that his life could be in danger from republicans opposed to his leadership. A party spokesman said Mr Adams was warned of the alleged threat on his return from Australia last week.

His solicitor, Mr Barra McGrory, was told the threat came from republican dissidents.

Speaking to journalists in Dublin last night, Mr Adams said he was taking the warnings seriously. "I take these threats seriously. That is one of the reasons I am still alive," he said, adding he would not be deflected from what he was doing by such warnings and "nobody will put us off".

An RUC spokesman said he could not comment but other police sources confirmed Mr Adams had been warned of the possible threat. Senior dissident sources along the Border said they knew of no such plot.