Gerry Adams denies ‘rock solid’ claim on WikiLeaks of being IRA boss

Gerry Adams has denied WikiLeaks claims that he was an IRA leader and knew in advance of 2004's £26.5 million Northern Bank robbery.

Dublin officials are said to have told the US ambassador James Kenny that Ireland had "rock solid evidence".

But Mr Adams said the claims were not new, that he had denied them at the time, and blamed Irish electoral rivalries for the allegations.

Mr Adams said the claims were made by the then Irish premier and Fianna Fail party leader, Bertie Ahern, and were denied by republicans at the time.

"I saw this and still see this as part of Fianna Fail's attack on or fight back against Sinn Fein at that time."

He said that despite WikiLeaks attributing the information to US diplomatic cables, the issue was never raised in Sinn Fein contacts with the White House.

"I worked very closely with, and indeed still work very closely with, American ambassadors and the US President at the time, vice president and other members of the administration going back 15 years."