Gerry Adams senior dies after long illness

Gerry Adams senior, the father of Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams, died in the Royal Victoria Hospital on Monday 17 November after a long illness. A lifelong republican, Adams senior was 77 when he died and is survived by five daughters and five sons.

His wife Annie died in September 1992.

In 1942, Gerry was shot and wounded by the RUC as he carried out an operation against the crown forces in the aftermath of the execution of Volunteer Tom Williams.

He was also a founding member of Cumann na Meirleach (the Irish Republican Felons' Club).

The Sinn Féin President cancelled all his public engagements on the news of his father's death. In a statement, on behalf of the entire Adams clann, he thanked staff at the RVH, the family doctor and all who attended Gerry senior during his illness.

Speaking at the party's manifesto launch at An Cultúrlann on Belfast's Falls Road on Monday, an event due to be hosted by Gerry Adams, the party's chief negotiator Martin McGuinness expressed the condolences of the Sinn Féin leadership to Gerry Adams and the entire Adams family.