‘Inconceivable’ Gerry Adams was not involved in IRA bombings, claims former British army commander

Richard Kemp tells high court former Sinn Féin leader would have authorised attacks carried out in England A former British army commander has told the high court it is “inconceivable” that Gerry Adams was not involved in the authorisation of IRA bombings. Richard Kemp said there was evidence from “a multitude of intelligence” spanning 20 years about the former Sinn Féin leader’s membership of the paramilitary organisation. He was giving evidence on Wednesday in the civil claim brought by three victims of IRA bombings, who are suing Adams for symbolic damages of £1 each, alleging that he was a member of the IRA and, for a period, sat on its army council. In his written witness statement, Kemp said: “In respect of the PIRA [provisional IRA] bomb attacks carried out in England that I understand these proceedings relate to (being the Old Bailey bomb in 1973 and the Docklands and Manchester bombings in 1996), they would have all required signoff from the army council. “This very high-profile activity simply could not have been carried out without the council’s knowledge and approval. It is inconceivable, in my view and based on my knowledge of the PIRA and the intell