Slán abhaile - Time to go Gerry.

[Katayusha Mk2]

Writing in the Irish News today Brian Feeney drew attention to the completely compromised nature of Gerry Adams as a political leader and how he has become a liability to PSF.

The two key issues affecting Adams are the revelations in regard to his brother Liam and the upcoming publication of the memoirs of Brendan 'Darkie' Hughes.

Liamgate isn't going away you know and it will linger in the media glare for months as Liam fights extradition from the 26C, is most likely extradited and then faces trial in the north. With backlog in the courts system the publicity could drag out for years. As Brian Feeney states:

It's bad enough that Gerry Adams's explanation for his inaction since hearing about the allegations in 1987 is full of holes, but what matters is that in political terms Gerry Adams becomes the story.

Adams is nowhere to be seen when the press seek interviews on the Robinsons or P+J negotiations as Gerry Kelly is handling all of the interviews. This is because Adams can't go infront of the press to talk on any subject without being challenged on the discrepancies in his story about Liam, Áine, Dundalk, Liam's tenure and status in PSF, Clonard and Blackie youth centres or the lower Andersonstown cumann.

This has left Gerry Kelly acting as defacto spokesman for his beleagered leader but no matter the topic every interview begins with questions about Adams. It's not about what PSF is doing, it's all about Gerry but then it always has been in Gerry's mind although this isn't the way he wanted it.

If they think it's bad now there will be compounded embarrassment for Adams and his party when the Darkie Hughes memoirs are published. These will focus on 1972 when Adams held a senior position on the Belfast brigade staff and the events of Bloody Friday and the abduction and murder of mother of 10 Jean McConville. If you think you have seen shinner spin and denial, you aint seen nothing yet. The story might well be Darkie's but the story will be Adams.

One of Gerry Adams's recent mentors Allistair Campbell famously said: "When you become the story, isn't it time to go?" Given that Gerry was happy enough to have Campbell write his speeches he might be well take his advice. There is bound to be a growing constituency within the shinners who would hope to be free of the Adams contamination.

[charley]

gerry adams loves the spotlight and will cling to his position to the detriment of all those arround him,its alway about him ,he doesn't seem to care whats being thrown as long as he is centrestage, his huge ego will be his downfall

[toxic avenger]

http://www.politics.ie/sinn-fein/121...ed-surely.html

[Katayusha Mk2]

http://www.politics.ie/sinn-fein/121...ed-surely.html

In any 'normal' political party he would have been finished already but PSF is not 'normal' by any stretch of the imagination. It more closely resembles a feudal fiefdom with Gerry surrounded by a sycophantic cadre of appointed yes men holding down 'jobs for the boys'. Too many of these sycophants are entirely dependent upon Gerry's largesse for their positions and incomes so they are unlikely to rock the boat. If there is to be any initiative to rescue PSF from its most poisonous liability it will most likely come from the 26C where so many activists must be in despair as all of their work in recent years is being progressively negated on a weekly basis as their electoral prospects are directly and intrinsicly proportional to Adams's evapourating credibility.

[David Cochrane]

The Adams issue is turning into a number of issue areas that are tough to keep confined to one thread and remain in a coherent fashion. So I'm ok for this thread to stand alone, though I have reccomended a tweak to distinguish between actual quotes so they stand out.

[Scribbler]

The Adams issue is turning into a number of issue areas that are tough to keep confined to one thread and remain in a coherent fashion. So I'm ok for this thread to stand alone, though I have reccomended a tweak to distinguish between actual quotes so they stand out.

Just set up a thread for Katayusha Mk2 and we'll all know it will be about slagging off SF.

[Dr Pat]

There seem to be brushfires springing up all over the place. I wonder what the Deputy First Minister makes of all of this?

[alan1122]

Just set up a thread for Katayusha Mk2 and we'll all know it will be about slagging off SF.

+1 and is there any way his signatures can be removed. it is insulting to SF members to be described as he does.

[Garland Names the Planets]

I think designing a heroic mural on housing estates for this one is going to proove a challenge

[Truth.ie]

+1 and is there any way his signatures can be removed. it is insulting to SF members to be described as he does.

You must've missed Factual's signature then?