Was party leader a terrorist?
The week's news at a glance.
Belfast, U.K.
A new book published this week charges that Gerry Adams, leader of Sinn Fein and a member of Parliament, set up an Irish Republican Army death squad to execute informers. Adams has long claimed that he was never a member of the IRA, but only of its political party, Sinn Fein. But in A Secret History of the IRA, journalist Ed Maloney says that Adams was an IRA operative in the early 1970s, and that he organized the unit that killed 10 people suspected of being British informers. The book says Adams directly approved the execution of at least one of the victims, Jean McConville, a widow whose 10 young children were left orphans. Adams denied the book’s charges.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
Critics’ choice: Restaurants worthy of their buzz
feature A fun bistro, a reservation worth the wait, and a modern twist on Mexican dishes
By The Week US Published
-
Film reviews: Snow White, Death of a Unicorn, and The Alto Knights
Feature A makeover for Disney’s first animated feature, greedy humans earn nature’s wrath, and a feud between crime bosses rattles the mob
By The Week US Published
-
Bombs or talks: What’s next in the US-Iran showdown?
Talking Points US gives Tehran a two-month deadline to deal
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published