By Brendan Anderson

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams has called for an inquiry into claims that police Special Branch were linked to an assassination bid when he was shot and seriously wounded.

Adams came close to death during the attack in 1984 when he was shot fives times. Three of his colleagues in the same car were also wounded.

He has now instructed his lawyer to ask Police Ombudsman (complaints commissioner) Nuala O’Loan to investigate the matter.

Adams made the move after a report in the West Belfast-based Andersonstown News said a retired CID detective has confirmed that the Special Branch were aware that the murder bid was to take place but failed to halt it.

The former detective said a Ulster Defense Association (UDA) paramilitary, who was also a Special Branch informer, gave his handlers details of the attack a week before it was due to take place.

Adams’ movements were known to the would-be assassins because he had been attending a court case close to Belfast city center. His automobile was attacked as it was being driven from the court. The attackers were captured when their own vehicle was rammed by off-duty soldiers who apparently just happened to be on the scene.

Adams said, “This is not the first time that a source from within the British system has confirmed that the UDA gang who carried out the attack were colluding with the Special Branch and British Military Intelligence. In his book, Big Boy’s Rules, Mark Urban confirmed some years ago that a British military intelligence source confirmed to him that a UDA agent had tipped them off about a plan to assassinate me.

“I have asked my solicitor to write to Nuala O’Loan and ask that this latest information be thoroughly investigated.”