Editing Gerry Adams (section)

==Movement into mainstream politics==
[[File:President Bill Clinton and Gerry Adams.jpg|thumb|right|Adams with [[President of the United States|President]] [[Bill Clinton]] in 1995]]
Sinn Féin continued its policy of refusing to sit in the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Westminster Parliament]] after Adams won the Belfast West constituency. He lost his seat to [[Joe Hendron]] of the SDLP in the [[1992 United Kingdom general election|1992 general election]],<ref>{{Cite book |last=Cook |first=Bernard A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P7-2AgAAQBAJ&q=gerry+adams+lost+his+seat+to+Joe+Hendron+of+the+Social+Democratic+and+Labour+Party+%28SDLP%29&pg=PT688 |title=Europe Since 1945: An Encyclopedia |date=27 January 2014 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9781135179328 |language=en |access-date=25 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310214610/https://books.google.com/books?id=P7-2AgAAQBAJ&q=gerry+adams+lost+his+seat+to+Joe+Hendron+of+the+Social+Democratic+and+Labour+Party+%28SDLP%29&pg=PT688 |archive-date=10 March 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> regaining it at the following [[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997 election]]. Under Adams, Sinn Féin moved away from being a political voice of the Provisional IRA to becoming a professionally organised political party in both [[Northern Ireland]] and the Republic of Ireland.

SDLP leader [[John Hume]] identified the possibility that a negotiated settlement might be possible and began secret talks with Adams in 1988. These discussions led to unofficial contacts with the British [[Northern Ireland Office]] under the [[Secretary of State for Northern Ireland]], [[Peter Brooke, Baron Brooke of Sutton Mandeville|Peter Brooke]], and with the government of the Republic under Charles Haughey&nbsp;– although both governments maintained in public that they would not negotiate with terrorists.{{citation needed|date=October 2015}} These talks provided the groundwork for what was later to be the [[Belfast Agreement]], preceded by the milestone [[Downing Street Declaration]] and the [[Joint Framework Document]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Albert |first=Cornelia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B0Djz3Aq_7IC&q=Belfast+Agreement%2C+preceded+by+the+milestone+Downing+Street+Declaration+and+the+Joint+Framework+Document.&pg=PA47 |title=The Peacebuilding Elements of the Belfast Agreement and the Transformation of the Northern Ireland Conflict |date=2009 |publisher=Peter Lang |isbn=9783631585917 |language=en |access-date=25 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310214531/https://books.google.com/books?id=B0Djz3Aq_7IC&q=Belfast+Agreement%2C+preceded+by+the+milestone+Downing+Street+Declaration+and+the+Joint+Framework+Document.&pg=PA47 |archive-date=10 March 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

These negotiations led to the IRA ceasefire in August 1994. Taoiseach [[Albert Reynolds]], who had replaced Haughey and who had played a key role in the Hume/Adams dialogue through his Special Advisor [[Martin Mansergh]], regarded the ceasefire as permanent. However, the slow pace of developments contributed in part to the (wider) political difficulties of the British government of John Major. His consequent reliance on [[Ulster Unionist Party]] (UUP) votes in the House of Commons led to him agreeing with the UUP demand to exclude Sinn Féin from talks until the IRA had [[Decommissioning in Northern Ireland|decommissioned its weapons]]. Sinn Féin's exclusion led the IRA to end its ceasefire and resume its campaign.<ref>{{Cite news |title=When peace almost died of exhaustion |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/when-peace-almost-died-of-exhaustion-1.90029 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004133751/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/when-peace-almost-died-of-exhaustion-1.90029 |archive-date=4 October 2015 |access-date=3 October 2015 |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]}}</ref>

After the 1997 United Kingdom general election, the new Labour government had a majority in the House of Commons and was not reliant on unionist votes. The subsequent dropping of the insistence led to another IRA ceasefire, as part of the negotiations strategy, which saw teams from the British and Irish governments, the UUP, the SDLP, Sinn Féin, and representatives of loyalist paramilitary organisations, under the chairmanship of former United States Senator [[George J. Mitchell|George Mitchell]], produce the [[Good Friday Agreement]] in 1998.<ref name="eb" /> Under the Agreement, structures were created reflecting the Irish and British identities of the people of Ireland, creating a [[British-Irish Council]] and a [[Northern Ireland Assembly|Northern Ireland Legislative Assembly]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Good Friday Agreement {{!}} British-Irish history |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Good-Friday-Agreement |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107032336/https://www.britannica.com/topic/Good-Friday-Agreement |archive-date=7 November 2017 |access-date=6 November 2017 |work=Encyclopædia Britannica |language=en}}</ref>

[[Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution of Ireland]] of the [[Constitution of Ireland|Republic's constitution]], which claimed sovereignty over all of Ireland, were reworded, and a power-sharing Executive Committee was provided for. As part of their deal, Sinn Féin agreed to abandon its abstentionist policy regarding a "six-county parliament", as a result taking seats in the new [[Parliament Buildings (Northern Ireland)|Stormont]]-based Assembly and running the education and health and social services ministries in the power-sharing government.

===Sinn Féin in government===
[[File:George W. Bush, Peter King, and Gerry Adams.jpg|thumb|right|Adams with [[President of the United States|President]] [[George W. Bush]] and [[Peter T. King|Peter King]] in 2001]]
On 15 August 1998, four months after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, the [[Omagh bombing]] by the [[Real IRA]], killed 29 people and injured 220, from multiple communities. Adams said in reaction to the bombing "I am totally horrified by this action. I condemn it without any equivocation whatsoever."<ref name="bbc">{{Cite news |date=16 August 1998 |title=Sinn Féin condemnation 'unequivocal' |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/events/northern_ireland/latest_news/151949.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314110520/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/events/northern_ireland/latest_news/151949.stm |archive-date=14 March 2017 |access-date=10 August 2020 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> Prior to this, Adams had not used the word "condemn" in relation to IRA or their splinter groups' actions.<ref name="bbc" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=17 August 1998 |title=Adams's condemnation further isolates dissidents |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/adams-s-condemnation-further-isolates-dissidents-1.183686 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202231437/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/adams-s-condemnation-further-isolates-dissidents-1.183686 |archive-date=2 December 2020 |access-date=10 August 2020 |publisher=Irish Times}}</ref>

In March 2007, Adams was re-elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in March 2007, and subsequently met with DUP leader [[Ian Paisley]] face-to-face for the first time. These talks led to the [[St Andrews Agreement]], which brought about the return of the power-sharing Executive in Northern Ireland.<ref>{{Cite news |date=26 March 2007 |title=May date for return to devolution |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6494599.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070401031536/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6494599.stm |archive-date=1 April 2007 |access-date=26 March 2007 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> When Sinn Féin came to nominate its two ministers to the [[Northern Ireland Executive]], for tactical reasons the party, like the SDLP and the DUP, chose not to include its leader among its ministers.

In January 2009, Adams attended the United States presidential [[First inauguration of Barack Obama|inauguration of Barack Obama]] as a guest of US Congressman [[Richard Neal]].<ref>19/Jan/2009 [https://web.archive.org/web/20091217102946/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/4293350/Barack-Obama-inauguration-Gerry-Adams-to-attend-ceremony.html Barack Obama inauguration: Gerry Adams to attend ceremony] ''The Daily Telegraph''.</ref>

===Election to Dáil Éireann===
Adams was re-elected as MP for West Belfast with 71.1% of the vote in May 2010,<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 May 2010 |title=Election 2010 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/election2010/results/constituency/704.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505132756/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/election2010/results/constituency/704.stm |archive-date=5 May 2021 |access-date=7 May 2010 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> but resigned his seat the following December,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Northern Ireland Assembly Information Office |title=NI Assembly membership, note 17 |url=http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/members/membership07.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071117060753/http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/members/membership07.htm |archive-date=17 November 2007 |access-date=1 January 2011 |publisher=Niassembly.gov.uk}}</ref> in order to seek election as a [[Teachta Dála|TD]] (member of Irish Parliament) for the constituency of [[Louth (Dáil constituency)|Louth]] at the [[2011 Irish general election]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 November 2010 |title=Adams to contest Co Louth seat for SF in next election |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/1114/breaking2.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101122014644/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/1114/breaking2.html |archive-date=22 November 2010 |access-date=14 November 2010 |newspaper=The Irish Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=20 January 2011 |title=Gerry Adams quits Westminster seat |url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/gerry-adams-quits-westminster-seat-15059866.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120729210027/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/gerry-adams-quits-westminster-seat-15059866.html |archive-date=29 July 2012 |access-date=24 January 2011 |website=The Belfast Telegraph}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=20 January 2011 |title=Gerry Adams resigns as West Belfast MP |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-12246725 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110123020018/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-12246725 |archive-date=23 January 2011 |access-date=24 January 2011 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> He topped the poll in the consistuency with 15,072 (21.7%) first preference votes,<ref>{{Cite news |date=28 February 2011 |title=Louth&nbsp;– RTÉ News |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/election2011/results/louth.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110228221707/http://www.rte.ie/news/election2011/results/louth.html |archive-date=28 February 2011 |access-date=6 March 2011 |publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann}}</ref> and was duly elected to Dáil Éireann where he succeeded [[Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin]] as Sinn Féin parliamentary leader.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gerry Adams |url=http://bigthink.com/experts/gerryadams |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107010608/http://bigthink.com/experts/gerryadams |archive-date=7 November 2017 |access-date=6 November 2017 |website=Big Think}}</ref>

In December 2013, Adams was a member of the [[Guard of Honour]] at [[Nelson Mandela]]'s funeral.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 December 2013 |title=Gerry Adams picked for guard of honour for Mandela |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/gerry-adams-guard-of-honour-nelson-mandela-1222286-Dec2013/ |access-date=1 February 2021 |website=The Journal}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=19 December 2013 |title=Madiba's legacy of hope – Gerry Adams on being at the funeral of Nelson Mandela |url=https://www.anphoblacht.com/contents/23628/ |access-date=1 February 2021 |website=An Phoblacht}}</ref>

===2014 arrest===
On 30 April 2014, Adams was arrested by detectives from the [[Police Service of Northern Ireland]] (PSNI) Serious Crime Branch, under the [[Terrorism Act 2000]], in connection with the [[murder of Jean McConville]] in 1972.<ref>{{Cite news |last=O'Connell |first=Hugh |date=2 May 2014 |title=The PSNI have been granted an extra 48 hours to question Gerry Adams |url=http://www.thejournal.ie/gerry-adams-sinn-fein-arrest-1445393-May2014/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140528005815/http://www.thejournal.ie/gerry-adams-sinn-fein-arrest-1445393-May2014/ |archive-date=28 May 2014 |access-date=27 May 2014 |work=thejournal.ie}}</ref> He had previously voluntarily arranged to be interviewed by police regarding the matter,<ref>{{Cite news |last=McDonald |first=Henry |date=30 April 2014 |title=Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams held over 1972 Jean McConville killing |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/apr/30/gerry-adams-held-jean-mconville-killing |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140501075314/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/apr/30/gerry-adams-held-jean-mconville-killing |archive-date=1 May 2014 |access-date=30 April 2014 |work=The Guardian |location=London}}</ref> and maintained he had no involvement.<ref name="BBC McConville">{{Cite news |date=30 April 2014 |title=Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams held over Jean McConville murder |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-27232731 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140430235109/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-27232731 |archive-date=30 April 2014 |access-date=30 April 2014 |work=BBC News |location=London}}</ref> Fellow Sinn Féin politician [[Alex Maskey]] stated that the timing of the arrest, "three weeks into an election", was evidence of a "political agenda [...] a negative agenda" by the PSNI.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Beaton |first=Connor |date=30 April 2014 |title=SF MLA: Adams arrest 'negative PSNI agenda' |url=http://thetarge.co.uk/article/current-affairs/0258/sinn-fein-mla-adams-arrest-negative-psni-agenda |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201007203220/http://thetarge.co.uk/article/current-affairs/0258/sinn-fein-mla-adams-arrest-negative-psni-agenda |archive-date=7 October 2020 |access-date=30 April 2014 |publisher=The Targe}}</ref> McConville's family had campaigned for the arrest of Adams for the murder.<ref>''[https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/gerry-adams-sinn-fein-leader-3480389 Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams arrested over murder of widowed mother abducted in 1972] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920222447/http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/gerry-adams-sinn-fein-leader-3480389 |date=20 September 2016 }}''</ref> McConville's son Michael said that his family did not think the arrest of Adams would ever happen, and were glad that the arrest took place. Adams was released without charge after four days in custody when a file was sent to the [[Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland|Public Prosecution Service]], which would decide if criminal charges should be brought.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-27232731 Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams held over Jean McConville murder] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024113939/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-27232731 |date=24 October 2018 }}. BBC News. 30 April 2014.</ref><ref>[http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/shadow-of-jean-mcconville-murder-still-hangs-over-gerry-adams-and-sinn-fein-30244125.html Shadow of Jean McConville murder still hangs over Gerry Adams and Sinn Fein] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505073500/http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/shadow-of-jean-mcconville-murder-still-hangs-over-gerry-adams-and-sinn-fein-30244125.html |date=5 May 2014 }} Irish Independent, 5 May 2014.</ref><ref name="Adams released">{{Cite news |date=4 May 2014 |title=Adams released without charge |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-27278039 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140504230216/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-27278039 |archive-date=4 May 2014 |access-date=4 May 2014 |publisher=BBC}}</ref>

At a press conference after his release, Adams criticised the timing of his arrest, reiterated Sinn Féin's support for the PSNI and said: "The IRA is gone. It is finished."<ref>{{Cite news |date=4 May 2014 |title=BBC News – Gerry Adams freed in Jean McConville murder inquiry |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-27278039 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727120602/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-27278039 |archive-date=27 July 2018 |access-date=22 June 2018 |work=BBC News}}</ref> Adams denied that he had any involvement in the murder or was ever a member of the IRA,<ref name="bbc.com" /><ref name="BBC McConville" /><ref name="BBC-Deny01">{{Cite web |date=6 May 2014 |title=Gerry Adams denies McConville son 'backlash threat' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-27280446 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140511043534/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-27280446 |archive-date=11 May 2014 |access-date=11 May 2014 |publisher=BBC |quote=The Sinn Fein president was questioned for four days in connection with the murder of Jean McConville and membership of the IRA.He has strongly denied all those allegations. ... He again said he was innocent of any involvement in Mrs McConville's murder.}}</ref> and said the allegations came from "enemies of the peace process".<ref name="bbc.com" /> On 29 September 2015 the Public Prosecution Service announced Adams would not face charges, due to insufficient evidence,<ref name="G2015">{{Cite news |date=29 September 2015 |title=Gerry Adams will not face charges over Jean McConville murder |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/sep/29/gerry-adams-will-not-face-trial-over-jean-mcconville |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160606111618/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/sep/29/gerry-adams-will-not-face-trial-over-jean-mcconville |archive-date=6 June 2016 |access-date=22 June 2016 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> as had been expected ever since a [[BBC]] report dated 6 May 2014 (2 days after the BBC reported his release),<ref name="BBC-Insuff01">{{Cite web |date=6 May 2014 |title=Gerry Adams denies McConville son 'backlash threat' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-27280446 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140511043534/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-27280446 |archive-date=11 May 2014 |access-date=11 May 2014 |publisher=BBC |quote=BBC News understands there was insufficient evidence to charge Mr Adams with any offence.}}</ref> which was widely repeated elsewhere.<ref name="Mirror-Insuff01">{{Cite news |last=Anthony Bond, Sam Adams |date=6 May 2014 |title="Insufficient evidence" to 'pursue prosecution of Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams' |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/gerry-adams-arrest-insufficient-evidence-3501200 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140507105217/http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/gerry-adams-arrest-insufficient-evidence-3501200 |archive-date=7 May 2014 |access-date=11 May 2014 |work=[[Daily Mirror]] |quote=No charges would be brought against Mr Adams unless significant new evidence comes to light, according to reports ... There is "insufficient evidence" to pursue a prosecution against Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams in relation to the 1972 murder of Jean McConville, according to reports. The BBC said it understood that no charges would be brought against Mr Adams unless significant new evidence comes to light.}}</ref>

===Late presidency===
[[File:Euclid Tsakalotos Gerry Adams 2015.jpg|thumb|Gerry Adams with [[Euclid Tsakalotos]] at the Sinn Féin ardfheis in March 2015]]
On 19 May 2015, while on an official royal trip to Ireland, [[Prince Charles]] shook Adams' hand in what was described as a highly symbolic gesture of reconciliation. The meeting, described as "historic", took place in Galway.<ref name="guardianmay19">[https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/may/19/prince-charles-and-gerry-adams-share-historic-handshake "Prince Charles and Gerry Adams share historic handshake". ''The Guardian''. Henry McDonald. 19 May 2015] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150521013218/http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/may/19/prince-charles-and-gerry-adams-share-historic-handshake |date=21 May 2015 }} retrieved 20 May 2015.</ref>

In September 2017, Adams said he would allow his name to go forward for a one-year term as president of Sinn Féin at the November [[ardfheis]], at which point Sinn Féin would begin a "planned process of generational change, including [Adams'] own future intentions". This resulted in speculation in the Irish and British media that Adams was preparing to stand down as party leader, and that he might run for [[President of Ireland]] in the [[2018 Irish presidential election|next election]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=5 September 2017 |title=Sinn Fein's Adams to outline succession plan in November |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ireland-politics-adams/sinn-feins-adams-to-outline-succession-plan-in-november-idUSKCN1BG1DA |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905144320/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ireland-politics-adams/sinn-feins-adams-to-outline-succession-plan-in-november-idUSKCN1BG1DA |archive-date=5 September 2017 |access-date=5 September 2017 |work=[[Reuters.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=McDonald |first=Henry |date=5 September 2017 |title=Gerry Adams signals intention to stand down as Sinn Féin leader |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/sep/05/gerry-adams-signals-intention-to-stand-down-as-sinn-fein-leader |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905133150/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/sep/05/gerry-adams-signals-intention-to-stand-down-as-sinn-fein-leader |archive-date=5 September 2017 |access-date=5 September 2017 |work=[[TheGuardian.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Downing |first=John |date=5 September 2017 |title=Gerry Adams will seek re-election as Sinn Féin leader and then set out plans to step down |url=http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/gerry-adams-will-seek-reelection-as-sinn-fin-leader-and-then-set-out-plans-to-step-down-36101620.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905123826/http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/gerry-adams-will-seek-reelection-as-sinn-fin-leader-and-then-set-out-plans-to-step-down-36101620.html |archive-date=5 September 2017 |access-date=5 September 2017 |work=[[Irish Independent]]}}</ref> At the ardfheis on 18 November, 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.<ref name="Retirement" />

===End of Sinn Féin presidency===
[[Image:Gerry Adams & Mary Lou McDonald 2014.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|Adams and his successor [[Mary Lou McDonald]], pictured here in 2014]]
Adams' presidency of Sinn Féin ended on 10 February 2018, with his stepping down and the election of [[Mary Lou McDonald]] as the party's new president.<ref>[https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2018/0210/939695-sinn-fein-leadership/ McDonald succeeds Adams as President of Sinn Féin] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210183926/https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2018/0210/939695-sinn-fein-leadership/ |date=10 February 2018 }}. RTÉ. Published 11 February 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.</ref>

On 13 July 2018, a home-made bomb was thrown at Adams' home in West Belfast, damaging a car parked in his driveway. Adams escaped injury and claimed that his two grandchildren were standing in the driveway only ten minutes before the blast. Another bomb was set off that same evening at the nearby home of former IRA [[Volunteer (Irish republican)|volunteer]] and Sinn Féin official [[Bobby Storey]]. In a press conference the following day, Adams said he thought the attacks were linked to the [[2018 Derry riots|riots in Derry]], and asked that those responsible "come and sit down" and "give us the rationale for this action".<ref>{{Cite news |title=Gerry Adams demands bombers who attacked his house explain why |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/gerry-adams-derry-riots-sinn-fein-explosive-device-northern-ireland-a8447151.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714164522/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/gerry-adams-derry-riots-sinn-fein-explosive-device-northern-ireland-a8447151.html |archive-date=14 July 2018 |access-date=24 July 2018 |work=The Independent}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Ainsworth |first=Paul |date=16 July 2018 |title=Video: CCTV captures attack on Gerry Adams' home |url=https://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2018/07/16/news/belfast-rally-to-show-support-for-gerry-adams-following-attack-on-home-1382981/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716175514/https://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2018/07/16/news/belfast-rally-to-show-support-for-gerry-adams-following-attack-on-home-1382981/ |archive-date=16 July 2018 |access-date=24 July 2018 |work=The Irish News |language=en}}</ref>

=== BBC Libel Case ===
In 2017, Gerry Adams launched a defamation case against the [[BBC]] over a programme it ran that alleged he sanctioned the murder of an informer has started at Dublin’s High Court. The former Sinn Féin president’s legal case stems from a 2016 BBC Northern Ireland Spotlight TV documentary The programme focused on [[Denis Donaldson]], a member of Sinn Féin, who was also in the IRA. He was murdered in 2006, four months after Adams revealed that he was an informer for the [[MI5]]. At the time, the murder was condemned by all, including Adams. Adams also denied any involvement in his murder.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ward-Brennan |first=Maria |date=2025-04-29 |title=Gerry Adams' libel case against BBC kicks off |url=https://www.cityam.com/gerry-adams-libel-case-against-bbc-kicks-off/ |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=City AM |language=en-GB}}</ref>