Monday 3rd October 2011 will see the High Court in Dublin set down a detailed judgement that will result in the extradition of Liam Dominic Adams back to the north for the alleged rape of his daughter when she was four year old. If the High Court were to make any other determination on the basis of the Defence objections that are nothing more than, “Straws in the Wind”, then the High Court would fall into public odium and our international reputation would be seriously damaged as we would be seen, yet again, as a country that allows political expediency to determine how our courts deal with persons accused of child rape in the north. It was the case of paedophile priest Fr Brendan Smyth that brought down the Albert Reynolds leadership of corrupt Fianna Fail.
Liam Adams will have 15 days to appeal the High Court decision to the Supreme Court, however, the Supreme Court will only address matters of public importance or exceptional points of law that might arise for the High Court decision, it is therefore unlikely that Liam Adams will succeed in that appeal. When Liam Adams is returned to the north it will take another 9-12 months for the case to come to trial, at this point we ‘may’ have the spectacle of Sinn Fein President, Gerry Adams TD having to give Queens evidence against his brother as Gerry has been forced to admit that he concealed the rape of his niece for many years. Gerry only made a statement to the PSNI in 2007 as it was clear that his niece was no longer going to be silenced by the bully boy tactics of Sinn Fein/IRA. Gerry had previously given his own father Gerry Adams Snr a full-IRA funeral even though Gerry Adams TD knew that his father was a serial child rapist.
It should be noted that while an ordinary citizen of the Irish Republic could be extradited to the north for concealing crimes or material facts relating to crimes, TDs, Senators and the Irish President cannot be forced to give evidence in a criminal trial in the north, hence Gerry Adams may have had dark reasons for getting elected as a TD in the Irish Republic.
Liam Dominic Adams is wanted in Northern Ireland in relation 18 alleged offences of rape and sexual assault against Aine Tyrell from she was 4 years old, who has waived her right to anonymity, it is not the first time that Liam Dominic Adams has been before the courts, and if he plays to form, he will most likely plead guilty when the case comes to trial in the north, ensuring that he serves a shorter sentence.
The 56-year-old, who denies the allegations, has fought his extradition from the Republic at the High Court in Dublin, and this was expected, although his brother Gerry Adams TD has publicly stated that he believes his brother Liam did rape Aine when she was a child.
Mr Justice John Edwards told the packed courtroom he has made a decision on extradition but that it was not “polished”. Mr Justice Edwards knows well how people such as Liam Adams play the legal system.
“The court has arrived a decision,” the judge said. “I’ve prepared a judgment and I’m conscious the parties will want to consider the judgment because whoever is the losing party might want to appeal to Supreme Court.
“I’m anxious the judgment should be as polished as it could be in the circumstances,” he said. “While the judgment is ready I would prefer to hold it over until Monday in terms of making it available.
“I could indicate the decision and give my reasons on Monday or I could hold everything over until Monday and I will be guided by parties,” said Mr Justice Edwards. “There are time limits involved if certain things were to happen.”
Both Michael O’Higgins, the barrister for Adams, and Aileen Donnelly, senior counsel for the State, indicated they would prefer to wait until Monday.
Ms Tyrell (38), who had travelled from Belfast for the hearing, was visibly upset as she left the Dublin’s courts flanked by family members.
The sex abuse claims became public in December 2009 when Ms Tyrell was featured in a television documentary.
Liam Adams is accused of rape, indecent assault and gross indecency at various addresses in Belfast between March 1977 and March 1983, when his daughter was aged between four and 10.
In an affidavit to the court, Liam Adams said has been prejudiced by the delay in bringing charges and widely condemned as a guilty man by the media and persons of repute and in positions of authority, including his brother. However, these arguments are nothing more than, “Straws in the Wind”, and have been argued by everyone from Charles Haughey to Larry Murphy.
The High Court was told a complaint was first lodged by Ms Tyrell and her mother, Sarah Adams, to police in Belfast on January 21st, 1987.
Liam Adams, whose last address was Bernagh Avenue in Belfast, denied the allegations when arrested in February 2007. A European arrest warrant was issued almost two years later and he handed himself in to gardaí in Dublin.
The judgment will be delivered in the Criminal Courts of Justice on Monday 3rd October 2011.
