Former Army Commander Testifies Gerry Adams' IRA Involvement 'Inconceivable'
Retired British army commander Richard Kemp has asserted in the High Court that it is "inconceivable" that former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams was not involved in authorising IRA bombings in England. Kemp, who served multiple tours in Northern Ireland, cited evidence from "a multitude of intelligence" sources spanning two decades, which he claimed indicated Adams' membership in the paramilitary organisation.
Intelligence Claims and Court Proceedings
Kemp provided evidence on Wednesday in a civil claim brought by three victims of IRA bombings, who are suing Adams for symbolic damages of £1 each. The claimants allege that Adams was a member of the IRA and, for a period, sat on its army council. In his written witness statement, Kemp detailed that high-profile bombings, including the Old Bailey attack in 1973 and the Docklands and Manchester bombings in 1996, would have required approval from the IRA's army council.
"This very high-profile activity simply could not have been carried out without the council's knowledge and approval," Kemp stated. "It is inconceivable, in my view and based on my knowledge of the PIRA and the intelligence I had access to, that Adams would not have been involved in this process and its ultimate authorisation."
Cross-Examination and Intelligence Reliability
Under cross-examination by James Robottom, representing Adams, Kemp acknowledged that he had no direct evidence of Adams' role in the bombings. He also accepted that the intelligence he referenced could be "wrong and unreliable" and might have originated from Adams' political enemies. However, Kemp maintained his position, arguing that intelligence reports over 20 years consistently indicated Adams' IRA involvement.
"I saw intelligence and was briefed on intelligence for a period of around 20 years, which made it clear that Mr Adams was in the IRA," Kemp said. "I think it is inconceivable that intelligence that was not correct would have been reported over that period of time."
Background and Controversies
Kemp, who later served as commander of British forces in Afghanistan, completed seven tours in Northern Ireland between 1979 and 2001, with direct involvement in military intelligence from 1992 to 1994. During the trial, Robottom questioned Kemp about his previous writings and public statements, noting that Kemp had not previously written about Adams' alleged IRA membership but had expressed strong opinions on Sinn Féin and the peace process.
Kemp described Sinn Féin and the IRA as "two sides of the same organisation" and admitted to being "very critical" of investigations and claims against British soldiers related to the Troubles. Additionally, Kemp addressed a 2017 tweet where he used the derogatory term "taigs" for Catholics. He explained that, as a Catholic himself, he had been called the term by fellow soldiers and did not realise it was an insult, stating he had not used it since being criticised.
The trial continues as the court examines the civil claim against Adams, with Kemp's testimony highlighting longstanding intelligence assessments and ongoing debates over accountability in Northern Ireland's troubled history.
