GERRY ADAMS “lied” when he claimed he was never a member of the IRA, according to a former member of the paramilitary group.
Des Long previously served on the IRA’s ruling army council and made the claims as part of the BBC Northern Ireland Spotlight On The Troubles: A Secret History.
Long alleges that Adams was at one stage the chairman of the IRA’s army council.
“You can’t be on the army council unless you are a volunteer, and you can’t be chairman of the army council unless you are a member of the army council,” he said.
“And I sat opposite him in meetings, this lie that he comes out with that he was never in the IRA. That’s a lie.
“I say that now as having sat opposite him in meetings, probably get shot for it, but I’m saying it.”
Army intelligence quoted in the programme indicates Adams was thought to be leading the IRA in later part of the 1970s.
Adams has always insisted he was never a member of the IRA.
He told the Ballymurphy inquest back in May: "I was not a member of the IRA, I have never disassociated myself with the IRA, and I never will, until the day I die."
The second episode of the seven-part series airs on the BBC this week.
