Sinn Fein leader’s brother fights extradition to Belfast, faces charges of molesting daughter

Sinn Fein leader’s brother fights abuse charges

DUBLIN — The brother of Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams is fighting Irish attempts to extradite him to Northern Ireland to face 18 criminal counts of sexually abusing his daughter.

Lawyers for Liam Adams argued Wednesday in Dublin High Court that the Belfast native couldn’t receive a fair trial because of extensive media coverage of the allegations against him. Adams is seeking Irish taxpayer funding for his defense, particularly research into Belfast TV reports on his case.

Adams’ daughter Aine has publicly accused him of molesting her from 1977 to 1983 when she was a child.

The case has embarrassed Sinn Fein because it highlights the party’s record of refusing to cooperate with police. Gerry Adams admits he learned of the allegations against his brother in 1987 but never told police.