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Chiesti 15 anni di carcere per Liam Adams

Call for 15-year sentence for Liam Adams

Liam Adams

The prosecution in the case against Liam Adams, brother of Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams, has told Belfast Crown Court he should serve at least 15 years for sexually abusing his daughter Aine.

Last month, 58-year-old Liam Adams was found guilty of raping and sexually abusing his daughter Aine over 30 years ago when she was aged between four and nine.

On Tuesday, Crown lawyer Ciaran Murphy QC told Judge Corinne Philpott that guidelines indicated 15 years was an appropriate starting point for a sentence, before aggravating or mitigating factors were considered.

It was also revealed that Adams, formerly of Bearnagh Drive in west Belfast, is being held in maximum security custody as prison authorities believe there could be a threat against him given his family connections.

During the pre-sentence hearing at Belfast Crown Court, Mr Murphy insisted there were a number of aggravating features to the crimes that the judge should take into account, including the abuse of trust committed, the young age of his victim and the fact he repeatedly offended.

He also noted the dramatic and enduring impact on Aine which he said had been outlined in a “dignified” victim impact statement she had produced for the court.

Ms Adams had waived her right to anonymity.

Mr Murphy said the ordeal had “clearly disturbed” her throughout her life.

Defence lawyer Eilis McDermott QC highlighted the health problems of her client and argued for a lesser sentence.

Adams, who walks with the aid of a stick, watched impassively from the dock as his lawyer detailed his ongoing treatment for both inflammation of the arteries and osteoarthritis.

The barrister also revealed that he was currently being held in maximum security due to his family associations.

She said: “He is being held in the highest secure conditions in prison and that’s because of the family of which he is a member and it’s considered by the prison authorities that he might be under threat because of that particular circumstance.”

Suggesting such measures would have to be taken throughout the length of whatever sentence was handed down, she claimed her client’s time in prison was set to be “even more onerous” than other prisoners.

After the potential aggravating and mitigating factors were presented by the lawyers, much of the remainder of the hearing was taken up with legal discussions between them and the judge on the possible restrictions that would be applied to Adams upon his eventual release.

At the conclusion, Judge Philpott said she would reserve her sentencing decision to give her time to consider all the matters raised.

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René Querin

Di professione grafico e web designer, sono appassionato di trekking e innamorato dell'Irlanda e della sua storia. Insieme ad Andrea Varacalli ho creato e gestisco Les Enfants Terribles.

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