Statement by Jim Allister:
“Following press reports that Gerry Adams had received legal aid to fund his challenge to two convictions for attempted escape I wrote to the Legal Services Agency raising two issues – was it true that Adams received legal aid and if so how much and secondly how on earth was he deemed eligible given his apparent financial means, including a generous pay off from the Irish taxpayer when he retired as a TD.
“Innocent victims of the terrorism Adams not only excused but justified and defended will be disgusted to learn that he received a total of £106,478.49 in legal aid. News of this kick in the teeth is all the more offensive coming as it does on the same day as we learn that a pension for victims is to be delayed.
“While many innocent victims have never had their day in court, Adams has been happy to use the British legal system. Not only that but the tax payer has footed the very substantial bill to allow him to do so.
“It’s wrong, outrageous indeed, that innocent victims like those of the Hyde Park Bombing had to fight a protracted battle to secure legal aid to pursue John Downey while Adams was gifted free legal representation costing a sum of this magnitude. Just how anyone thought Adams was deserving of legal aid, particularly in view of his apparent means, remains an unanswered question.”