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Gerry Adams’ historic convictions for attempting to escape the Labyrinth Prison in the 1970s have been overturned by the Supreme Court.
The 71-year-old former Sinn Fein leader attempted to escape from Northern Ireland prison, also known as Long Kesh Internment Camp, on Christmas Eve 1973 and again in July 1974. He was sentenced to a total four and a half years. years.
At his last hearing in November, Adams argued that his detention was not certain because “it was not personally considered” by a high government minister.
Today, the UK Supreme Court agreed, ruling that it was illegal to imprison him because the case had not been “personally considered” by the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Willie Whitelaw.
Judge Lord Kerr said in a remote hearing: “The issuance of the provisional custody order (ICO) regarding the appellant was not valid since the secretary of state had not considered it.
“Consequently, Mr. Adams’ arrest was illegal, therefore his convictions of trying to escape legal custody were also illegal. Therefore, the appeal is allowed and his convictions are overturned.”
The former party leader said he “has no regrets” about his imprisonment.
The judge added that Adams had been detained under an ICO conducted under the Terrorist Detention Order (Northern Ireland) of 1972 and that “such an order could be made when the Secretary of State found that an individual was involved in terrorism.” Adams has always denied being a member of the IRA.
Reacting to the sentence, Adams urged the UK Government to identify and inform others whose imprisonment may also have been illegal.
He said in a statement: “I do not regret my imprisonment, except for the time that I was separated from my family.
“However, we were not alone. It is believed that around 2,000 men and women were interned during their four and a half years of operation.”
“I consider my time at Prison Ship Maidstone, Belfast Prison and Long Kesh to be in the company of many remarkable, resilient and inspiring people.”
Adams, 71, attempted to escape The Maze in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, in December 1973 and July 1974.
Analysis: Supreme Court ruling “enormously significant”
By David Blevins, Irish Senior Correspondent
“It means that Mr. Adams, who has always denied being a member of the Provisional IRA, has no criminal convictions, a clean slate.”
“In 2014, he was interrogated for four days about the kidnapping and murder of Jean McConville in 1972, but the Public Ministry ruled that there was not enough evidence to charge him,” said David Blevins, Ireland correspondent for Sky.
“Since another 1,900 were interned without trial in the 1970s, it could also open the floodgates with hundreds of others who claim they were also illegally detained,” he added.
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