Giving Gerry Adams compensation for his internment during the Troubles would be “repugnant” to victims, the son of a murdered prison officer has said. 

Mr Adams was interned without trial during the 1970s but is currently blocked by a clause in Britain’s Legacy Act from claiming compensation for unlawful detention. 

The British Government has announced its intention to repeal the legislation - something that could pave the way for Mr Adams to apply for compensation. 

Yesterday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told the House of Commons that he would look at "every conceivable way" to block the former Sinn Féin MP and leader from receiving a payout. 

On Newstalk Breakfast, Austin Stack, son of Brian, said he did not have “any faith” that Mr Adams could be stopped by Downing Street from receiving compensation. 

“It is the direct actions of Keir Starmer and the British Government that have led to this situation by repealing that section of the Legacy Act,” he said. 

“They are leaving the door open because there has been a decision made in a court case in Northern Ireland where that section of the Act was found to be not compatible with the European Human Rights Convention. 

“The British Government had an appeal launched against that decision but they have actually withdrawn that appeal.”

British troops on the streets of Belfast in May 1973. Image: Alain Le Garsmeur "The Troubles" Archive / Alamy

In 2014, Mr Adams was arrested as part of a PSNI investigation into the death of Jean McConville but was released without charge. 

He has always denied involvement in the mother of 10’s murder or that he was a member of the IRA. 

Despite this, he told the BBC in 2019 that he had “never distanced myself” from the organisation. 

“It is repugnant to victims that someone like Gerry Adams could be rewarded or profiteer from the blood of victims,” Mr Stack said. 

“This is not just republicans - loyalist people would benefit from this as well. 

“Gerry Adams would say that nobody should be locked up without trial and while I, essentially, agree with that principle, we’re talking about a very unusual situation.” 

Gerry Adams holding a copy of the Good Friday Agreement. Picture by: Alamy.com.

Mr Stack’s father, Brian, was serving as Chief Officer at Portlaoise Prison when he was shot in Dublin 1983. 

No one was ever charged or convicted of his murder and in 2019 An Garda Síochána apologised to the Stack family for their failure to investigate the crime properly. 

“Everything that has happened in Northern Ireland in relation to the Good Friday Agreement and since in relation to human rights, there seems to be a hierarchy of human rights,” Mr Stack said. 

“It seems to victims that the human rights of the IRA, the human rights of Gerry Adams, the human rights of people who murdered 1,800 people on this island, are more important than the human rights of, say, someone like my Dad. 

“Where were the human rights for my Dad who was shot in the back of the head when he walked down the street in Dublin? A completely innocent man.” 

Sinn Féin has been contacted for comment.

You can listen back here:

Main image: Gerry Adams. Picture by: Niall Carson/PA Wire/PA Images