How old is Gerry Adams, who is the former Sinn Fein leader’s wife Colette McArdle and when was their Belfast home attacked?
Gerry Adams led Sinn Fein for almost 35 years until he stood down earlier this year
FORMER Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams was targeted by thugs who threw explosives at his family home.
Here's what you need to know about the attack on Adams and his wife Collette McArdle.
How old is Gerry Adams?
Gerry Adams was born in Belfast in October 1948. He is now 69 years old.
He joined Sinn Fein in 1964 when he was a teenage barman and became active in the Republican movement.
In the 1970s Adams was arrested several times accused of being a member of the IRA and was held in an internment camps.
He became leader of Sinn Fein in 1983, a post he held until he stepped down in February 2018.
He was also a member of parliament from 1997 to 2011, though like all Sinn Fein MPs he never took up his seat in Westminster.
During the Troubles, the party was seen as the political wing of the IRA.
Adams has denied he was ever a member of the Provisional IRA but says he does not "dissociate" himself from the terror group.
In December declassified police files included a claim Adams may have grassed up an IRA hit squad who were killed by the SAS on their way to bomb a barracks.
Who is Gerry Adams' wife?
Gerry Adams married Colette McArdle in what has been described as a secret wedding while he was on the run from police in 1971.
They had met the year before when they were both active in the Republican movement.
In his memoir he describes how he proposed to Colette as they hid from Paratroopers who were kicking down doors looking for IRA militia.
Gerry said he whispered to her: “If we get out of this, I’m going to marry you.”
His own father missed the wedding because he was interned at the time.
Adams wrote how friends "bunched up and gave us a few bob" and bought him a set of clothes the day before the wedding.
Fearing a raid by the British Army, Gerry slipped into church during a mass. After the service they were wed in front of only a few friends and family.
The couple have one son, Gearoid, a teacher and Gaelic footballer.
When was Gerry Adams' home attacked?
Thugs hurled explosives at Adams' West Belfast home on the evening of July 13.
The attack - caught on CCTV - caused damage to a car on the driveway.
Mr Adams said his grandchildren had been playing on the spot minutes earlier.
He said in a challenge to the attackers: "I'd like them or their representatives to come and meet me.
"Come and sit down and explain to me what this is about."
Another device was launched at the home of senior Sinn Fein figure Bobby Storey on the same evening.
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Police described the devices used as being “large industrial fireworks capable of causing serious damage or injury”.
It came amid days of rioting by suspected Republican dissidents who are said to want to derail the Northern Ireland peace process.
Explosives and petrol bombs were thrown at officers in Londonderry. Police said it was “nothing short of a miracle” that no one was injured or killed.
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