Gerry Adams: The Prime Minister says the Government will try to stop the payment.

The Prime Minister has said the Government will consider “every conceivable way” to prevent former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams from receiving compensation.

Sir Keir Starmer was speaking after Conservatives in the House of Commons said it was “disgraceful” that repealing the Legacy Act could put Mr Adams in line for a “cheque”.

The Legacy Act currently prevents him – and many others detained without trial in the 1970s – from claiming compensation for unlawful detention.

Several colleagues have backed the report from Policy Exchange, a London-based think tank. Criticism of the move to lift the ban.

Labour, which has launched the process to repeal the act, said the previous government’s approach to inheritance was “almost universally opposed in Northern Ireland”.

A provision of the act currently prevents payments to Mr Adams and around 400 other people have been detained.

If the Legacies Act were repealed by Parliament, it is highly likely that Mr. Adams would pursue compensation.

Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs), Sir Kiir said the act was “inadequate” because it was not supported by victims or political parties.

He cited a Northern Ireland High Court ruling that this was part of the Act. Not compatible with human rights legislation and the Windsor Framework.

“We will put in place a better framework, we are working on drafting remedial orders and alternative legislation and we will look at every conceivable way to prevent these types of cases from claiming damages. I must say that on the record,” he said.

If Mr. Adams is successful with the compensation bid, it could result in a six-figure payout.

It will cover his prosecution for illegal detention and attempted escape, for which he was sentenced to four and a half years in prison.

Speaking after Sir Keir’s comments at PMQs, his official spokesman said he could not guarantee that compensation payments to Mr Adams or other former Troubles prisoners would be stopped.

“Clearly the government’s intention is to stop the payment of compensation,” he said.

“We’re going to look at every option but I can’t go ahead with that process.

“The prime minister wouldn’t make this commitment on the floor of the House if he didn’t think we could solve the problem.

“This is a complex area and when it comes to the Northern Ireland Legacy Act we have been left with a real mess that was completely unfit for purpose”.

Earlier in the Commons, former Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith said the Policy Exchange report raised significant concerns.

The Conservative MP urged the government to “return to the previous cross-party position” to prevent such compensation.

Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Bean said she had seen the report but added that procedures in the Legacy Act were found to be unlawful.

“Of course, as the previous government did, we will continue to see if we can find a legal way to deal with the problem that he has identified,” Bean said.

Meanwhile the Attorney General for England and Wales was asked during an appearance before the Commons Justice Committee that he had previously acted as Mr Adams’ legal representative.

Lord Harmer said he was “disinclined” to answer questions about how he was paid for his work for “any client”.

He said, “I represented Gerry Adams on something that had nothing to do with legacy… At the same time I represented the family of a young British soldier who was killed by the IRA in the 1970s. was.”

“Both clients understood the importance of being able to represent everyone, which is what the legal system is all about.”

The Act was a controversial attempt by the government to “draw a line” under the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

It was first proposed in 2021 by then-prime minister Boris Johnson as a solution to end the “vexatious cases” of veterans.

It was passed in 2023, but was opposed by victims’ groups and all of Northern Ireland’s main political parties.

The Act created a new legacy body known as the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) to handle all Troubles Era cases from 1 May 2024, including those of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). Cases on the desk.

He also stopped all historical investigations.

The most controversial element of the act, the offer of conditional immunity to suspects, was rejected after legal action by bereaved families.

The court ruled that it was part of the Act. Not compatible with human rights legislation and the Windsor Framework.

Labor has promised to repeal the Legacy Act if it wins the general election in July. This process officially started in December..

A Supreme Court The decision In 2020, Mr Adams was cleared for damages when his convictions for two attempted prison break-ins were overturned.

It ruled that his detention was unlawful because an Interim Detention Order (ICO) was issued by the then Northern Ireland Secretary, Willie Whitelaw. “Not personally considered”.

At the time, the Conservative government argued that ICOs were legal because of a convention known as the Carltona principle, where officials and junior ministers routinely act in the name of the Secretary of State.

A provision was inserted into the Legacy Act, stopping payments to Mr Adams and about 400 others.