The Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, was yesterday given a date for the hearing of his £10,000 compensation claim against the RUC. It will be heard at Belfast Recorders Court on February 16th.
The MP's claim arises out of an RUC "curfew" on Belfast's Lower Ormeau Road in July 1996, when he alleges he was held at a police roadblock for four hours. Mr Adams is claiming damages for false imprisonment, trespass to his person and an abuse of lawful authority by RUC officers in restraining his movements. His solicitor, Mr Barra McGrory, said the Crown Solicitor's office had served notice of intention to defend the claim.
The hearing will be the second time Mr Adams has sought compensation in the courts. The first was after loyalist gunmen shot him in 1984. The Northern Ireland Office refused payment because of his alleged paramilitary links, including past membership of the IRA.
His past character cannot be used in the new claim, according to Mr McGrory. He said: "Under the Criminal Injuries legislation a claimant's past is a relevant consideration but as this case is a common law action such a defence could not be availed of."