51 Facts About Gerry Adams

Gerard Adams is an Irish republican politician who was the president of Sinn Fein between 13 November 1983 and 10 February 2018, and served as a Teachta Dala for Louth from 2011 to 2020.

Gerry Adams first became involved in Irish republicanism in the late 1960s, and had been an established figure in Irish activism for more than a decade before his 1983 election to Parliament.

In 1984, Gerry Adams was seriously wounded in an assassination attempt by several gunmen from the Ulster Defence Association, including John Gregg.

In 2014, Gerry Adams was held for four days by the Police Service of Northern Ireland for questioning in connection with the 1972 abduction and murder of Jean McConville.

Gerry Adams was released without charge and a file was sent to the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland, which later stated there was insufficient evidence to charge him.

Gerry Adams announced in November 2017 that he would step down as leader of Sinn Fein in 2018, and that he would not stand for re-election to his seat in Dail Eireann in 2020.

Gerry Adams was succeeded by Mary Lou McDonald at a special ardfheis on 10 February 2018.

Gerry Adams was born in the Ballymurphy district of Belfast on 6 October 1948.

Gerry Adams's grandfather, named Gerry Adams, was a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood during the Irish War of Independence.

Two of his uncles, Dominic and Patrick Gerry Adams, had been interned by the governments in Belfast and Dublin.

Gerry Adams's maternal great-grandfather, Michael Hannaway, was a member of the IRB during its bombing campaign in England in the 1860s and 1870s.

Gerry Adams attended St Finian's Primary School on Falls Road, where he was taught by La Salle brothers.

Gerry Adams left St Mary's with six O-levels and worked in bars.

Gerry Adams was increasingly involved in the Irish republican movement, joining Sinn Fein and Fianna Eireann in 1964, after being radicalised by the Divis Street riots during that year's general election campaign.

Gerry Adams was an active supporter and joined the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association in 1967.

Gerry Adams was active in rioting at this time and later became involved in the republican movement.

Gerry Adams was captured by British soldiers in March 1972 and in a Belfast Telegraph report on Gerry Adams' capture he was said to be "one of the most wanted men in Belfast".

Gerry Adams was re-arrested in July 1973 and interned at the Maze prison.

Gerry Adams was highly critical of a decision taken by McKee to assassinate members of the rival Official IRA, who had been on ceasefire since 1972.

Gerry Adams has stated repeatedly that he has never been a member of the Provisional Irish Republican Army.

Moloney and Taylor state Gerry Adams became the IRA's Chief of Staff following the arrest of Seamus Twomey in early December 1977, remaining in the position until 18 February 1978 when he, along with twenty other republican suspects, was arrested following the La Mon restaurant bombing.

Gerry Adams was charged with IRA membership and remanded to Crumlin Road Gaol.

Gerry Adams was released seven months later when the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland Robert Lowry ruled there was insufficient evidence to proceed with the prosecution.

Moloney and English state Gerry Adams had been a member of the IRA Army Council since 1977, remaining a member until 2005 according to Irish Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform Michael McDowell.

On 30 April 2014, Gerry Adams was arrested by detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland Serious Crime Branch, under the Terrorism Act 2000, in connection with the murder of Jean McConville in 1972.

Gerry Adams had previously voluntarily arranged to be interviewed by police regarding the matter, and maintained he had no involvement.

Gerry Adams was released without charge after four days in custody and it was decided to send a file to the Public Prosecution Service, which would decide if criminal charges should be brought.

Gerry Adams has denied that he had any involvement in the murder or was ever a member of the IRA, and has said the allegations against him came from "enemies of the peace process".

In 1978, Gerry Adams became joint vice-president of Sinn Fein and a key figure in directing a challenge to the Sinn Fein leadership of President Ruairi O Bradaigh and joint vice-president Daithi O Conaill.

Gerry Adams, who had joined the republican movement in the early 1960s, sided with the Provisionals.

At an Ard Chomhairle meeting, Gerry Adams recommended that they contest only four constituencies which were in border counties.

The 1982 election was followed by the 1983 Westminster election, in which Sinn Fein's vote increased and Gerry Adams was elected, as an abstentionist, as MP for Belfast West.

In 1983, Gerry Adams was elected president of Sinn Fein and became the first Sinn Fein MP elected to the British House of Commons since Phil Clarke and Tom Mitchell in the mid-1950s.

On 14 March 1984 in central Belfast, Gerry Adams was seriously wounded in an assassination attempt when several Ulster Defence Association gunmen fired about 20 shots into the car in which he was travelling.

Gerry Adams was rushed to the Royal Victoria Hospital, where he underwent surgery to remove three bullets.

Thatcher was moved to act after BBC interviews of Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams had been the focus of a row over an edition of After Dark, a proposed Channel 4 discussion programme which in the event was never made.

Actors who voiced Gerry Adams included Stephen Rea and Paul Loughran.

Sinn Fein continued its policy of refusing to sit in the Westminster Parliament after Gerry Adams won the Belfast West constituency.

Gerry Adams lost his seat to Joe Hendron of the SDLP in the 1992 general election, regaining it at the following 1997 election.

Gerry Adams was re-elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly on 8 March 2007, and on 26 March 2007, he met with DUP leader Ian Paisley face-to-face for the first time.

In January 2009, Gerry Adams attended the United States presidential inauguration of Barack Obama as a guest of US Congressman Richard Neal.

In 2010, Gerry Adams announced that he would be seeking election as a TD for the constituency of Louth at the 2011 Irish general election.

Gerry Adams subsequently resigned his West Belfast Assembly seat on 7 December 2010.

Gerry Adams was elected to the Dail, topping the Louth constituency poll with 15,072 first preference votes.

Gerry Adams succeeded Caoimhghin O Caolain as Sinn Fein parliamentary leader in Dail Eireann.

In December 2013, Gerry Adams was a member of the Guard of Honour at Nelson Mandela's funeral.

In September 2017, Gerry Adams said he would allow his name to go forward for a one-year term as president of Sinn Fein at the November ardfheis, at which point Sinn Fein would begin a "planned process of generational change, including [Gerry Adams'] own future intentions".

At the ardfheis on 18 November, Gerry Adams was re-elected for another year as party president, but announced that he would step down at some point in 2018, and would not seek re-election as TD for Louth.

Gerry Adams escaped injury and claimed that his two grandchildren were standing in the driveway only 10 minutes before the blast.

Gerry Adams died of pancreatic cancer, aged 63, while in Maghaberry Prison, in February 2019.

Gerry Adams has been portrayed in a number of films, TV series, and books:.