Being in Sinn Féin not the same as being in the IRA, Gerry Adams tells high court

Adams arriving at the Royal Courts of Justice in central London, where he wished the judge ‘a very happy St Patrick’s Day’. Photograph: Aaron Chown/PA

Gerry Adams has told the high court that opponents of Sinn Féin have repeatedly sought to conflate the political party he led with the IRA, as he denied ever being a member of the Irish Republican Army.

Giving evidence in London watched by victims of IRA bombings, the 77-year-old, credited with helping to bring about the peace process that ended the Troubles, also rejected accusations that he had ever led the paramilitary organisation or sat on its army council.