Gerry Adams steps down

Seen by many as the face of the IRA during its campaign against British rule in Northern Ireland, and hailed by others as a peacemaker, Gerry Adams has been a pivotal figure in Irish political life for almost 50 years

1948: Gerry Adams born into strongly republican family in West Belfast

1969: British government deploys Army to Northern Ireland following sectarian clashes between Catholics and Protestants

1970s: Becomes active in civil rights movement with Martin McGuinness
(below right)

1972-76: Interned (held without trial) on suspicion of heading unit of Irish Republican Army (IRA) – paramilitary group seeking united Ireland. Briefly released to take part
in secret peace talks with British government

1978: Adams, reputedly now top IRA strategist – claim he has consistently denied – is re-arrested but charges are dismissed

1981: Plays leading role in planning hunger strikes by republican prisoners, which sees Sinn Féin become political force

1983: Elected president of Sinn Féin and member of British parliament –
but refuses to take seat to avoid taking oath of loyalty to Queen

1984: Survives assassination attempt by loyalist paramilitaries

1988: Holds secret talks with moderate republican Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), paving way for wider peace process

1994: U.S. President Bill Clinton grants Adams controversial 48-hour visa for peace conference in New York, which leads to first IRA ceasefire

1997: Meets British Prime Minister Tony Blair for first time

Apr 10, 1998: Good Friday Agreement signed in Belfast. Accord paves way for devolution through power-sharing coalition of unionists and nationalists

Jun: Elected to new Northern Ireland Assembly

2003: Power-sharing deal collapses – Adams plays key role in efforts to broker new agreement between Sinn Féin and one-time enemies, Democratic Unionist Party (DUP)

2005: IRA formally ends armed campaign

2007: Adams and DUP leader Ian Paisley reach agreement to restore N. Ireland Assembly

2011: Resigns from West Belfast seat. Elected to Dáil, Irish parliament

2014: Questioned in connection with 1972 IRA murder of Belfast woman Jean McConville, but no charges are brought

Mar 2017: McGuinness dies after short illness

Feb 10, 2018: Adams succeeded as Sinn Fein president by Mary Lou McDonald seen as offering party a way to soften its image


800km 500 miles
Derry/Londonderry
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
Dublin
Belfast
UK London
NORTHERN IRELAND

Sources: Encyclopaedia Britannica, BBC
Pictures: Newscom, Associated Press
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