Gerry Adams is expected to give evidence in his own defence in a civil action being taken by three survivors of IRA bombings.
The trial involving the former Sinn Fein leader, who denies ever being a member of the IRA, has been set for early 2026.
The case is being taken by John Clark, who was caught up in the Old Bailey explosion of 1973, justice campaigner Jonathan Ganesh, who was injured in the London Docklands bombing of 1996, and Barry Laycock, who was hurt in the attack on Manchester’s Arndale Shopping Centre.
They are suing Adams for nominal damages of £1.
According to the BBC, the trio allege Mr Adams “acted with others in furtherance of a common design to bomb the British mainland” and was “directly responsible” in various roles within the IRA for decisions made to place devices in 1973 and 1996.
The trial is expected to last seven days and is due to take place between February and June 2026, a case management hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice in London heard today.
Mr Adams is the only witness appearing in his defence, with more than a dozen expected in total, including ex-IRA members and former security force members.
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A solicitor for the three complainants, Matt Jury, said: “Finally, after five decades, Adams, for the first time, will appear in person in an English court to be cross-examined by the victims of his alleged leadership of the IRA’s terror campaign.”
In January, a High Court judge ruled that the bomb victims could neither sue the IRA, as it is “an unincorporated association” and not a legal entity, nor Mr Adams as a “representative” of the IRA, as the allegation that he was a leader of the IRA would have to be determined at a trial.
However, the High Court ruled that they can sue Mr Adams in a personal capacity for damages.
Mr Adams has always denied any involvement in the IRA terror campaign during the decades of the Troubles. He has never been prosecuted for links with any of the group’s activities.
News Catch Up: Monday 16th December