A chara, – Further to Eamonn McCann's column "Sinn Féin version of Troubles should not go unchallenged" (Opinion & Analysis, September 18th), in my interview with the BBC I said that the IRA, like many before them in Ireland and internationally who sought to bring about political change, broke the law. That is self-evident.
Mr McCann bases his entire column on his false claim that I had in fact stated the opposite, ie that the IRA had been “law abiding”.
In the BBC interview I also pointed out that what is important now is that we are living in different times, not least because of the political changes that republicans were central to bringing about. These include a new policing and justice dispensation in the North.
Finally, I stand over my remarks that republicans across this island, including the hundreds of thousands of citizens who vote for Sinn Féin are, and have always been, law-abiding people. – Is mise,
GERRY ADAMS, TD,
Teach Laighean,
Baile Átha Cliath 2.