II.

Early Years

Gerry Adams was born in West Belfast, the eldest of ten children. After attending grammar school he became a bartender and was involved in the defense of Catholic areas of Belfast during the violent conflicts between Catholic republicans (those who wanted Northern Ireland to unite with Ireland) and Protestant loyalists (those who favored maintaining Northern Ireland’s link with Great Britain) in 1969 and 1970. The British security forces believed him to be a senior member of the IRA during the 1970s, although he has strenuously denied this. He was interned (imprisoned without trial) in 1971, but released in July 1972 to take part in talks with the British secretary of state for Northern Ireland, William Whitelaw. The talks resulted in a brief cease-fire between the Catholic and Protestant factions.

Adams was arrested again in 1973 on the suspicion of being a senior member of the IRA. After attempting to escape incarceration before his trial he was sentenced to 18 months in prison and was released in 1976. His autobiography, Cage Eleven (1993), describes his experiences as a prisoner. In February 1978 he was once again charged with membership in the IRA and placed under custody, but was later released due to insufficient evidence.