'Few tears' would've been shed if IRA killed Margaret Thatcher, Gerry Adams says

08 May 2023 , 13:32

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Margaret Thatcher at the 1984 Conservative Party Conference, which was targeted by the IRA (Image: Getty)

Former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams claimed there would have been "very few tears" shed in parts of Britain if Margaret Thatcher was killed in a 1984 IRA bomb.

The Tory PM survived the Brighton attack, which happened during the Conservative Party conference, claiming five lives and leaving 31 injured.

MP Sir Anthony Berry died, along with area chairman Eric Taylor, and the wives of three MPs - Lady Jeanne Shattock, Lady Muriel Maclean and Roberta Wakeham.

Mrs Thatcher's suite was damaged, but she was uninjured in the atrocity.

Mr Adams said: "There would be very few tears shed for Margaret Thatcher in Republican Ireland, or in many villages in Wales and working class Scotland and England itself."

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Brighton's Grand Hotel was severely damaged when an IRA bomb killed five people (PA)

The atrocity left more than 30 people injured

He said Mrs Thatcher was "notorious" following the deaths of IRA hunger strikers after refusing to meet their demands, and said she was masquerading as being somebody who was indomitable".

Challenged about the incendiary remarks by ex-Tory MP Rory Stewart - himself a former British soldier - Mr Adams said: " "I never went to war.

"You came to me, you know. You came in, in khaki, and tanks. I think including the deaths of British soldiers and RUC officers- all those deaths are to be regretted.

"It's a regrettable part of our history. And clearly for civilians, for them to be killed, it doesn't matter if it was an accident or not. That's even more regrettable, and thankfully we're now out of all that, and we need to learn the lessons of it."

Former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams was challenged on the remarks

The Northern Irish politician was discussing the Troubles in Northern Ireland on the Rest is Politics podcast, presented by Alistair Campbell and Mr Stewart.

Asked if he would have been happy if Mrs Thatcher died, Mr Adams said: "Happiness or happy is not a term I would use. The fact is, there was a war.

"Margaret Thatcher was notorious, not just for her presiding over the deaths of the hunger strikers which could have been easily resolved, by very simple improvements in the prison regime.

"But also because she was up front, and she was being the Iron Lady, and she was masquerading as being somebody who was indomitable, and so on.

"There would be very few tears shed for Margaret Thatcher in Republican Ireland, or in many villages in Wales and working class Scotland and England itself.

"But, it's done, it's over, it's gone. All of that was in the past."

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