If you’ve spent any time on Disney+ or Hulu lately, you’ve probably seen his face. Or at least, the face of the actor playing him. Josh Finan portrays a young, bespectacled, and strangely intense Gerry Adams in Say Nothing, the sprawling TV adaptation of Patrick Radden Keefe’s bestseller. It’s a jarring watch. One minute he’s a soft-spoken strategist in a smoky room, the next, he’s allegedly overseeing a unit that made people "disappear."
But here’s the thing. The real Gerry Adams says none of it is true.
The disconnect is wild. Every single episode of the show ends with a legal disclaimer. It basically says that Adams has always denied being a member of the IRA. He denies ordering the murder of Jean McConville. He denies being part of the "Unknowns." Yet, the narrative presented in Say Nothing is built on the testimony of people who were right there in the thick of it.
The Secret Tapes That Changed Everything
The whole "Say Nothing" phenomenon didn't just come out of thin air. It started with something called the Belfast Project.
Back in the early 2000s, researchers at Boston College started interviewing former paramilitaries. The deal was simple: tell your story, be totally honest, and we won’t release the tapes until you’re dead. It was supposed to be an oral history for the ages. Instead, it became a legal nightmare and a goldmine for investigative journalists.
When Brendan "The Dark" Hughes and Dolours Price died, their secrets came spilling out. Hughes was once one of Adams’ closest friends. In his recordings, he wasn't just critical; he was embittered. He claimed that Gerry Adams wasn't just in the IRA—he was the one calling the shots in Belfast.
Honestly, the betrayal felt on both sides is the real heart of the story. Hughes and Price felt Adams had "sold out" the revolution for a seat at the political table. Meanwhile, Adams moved on to become a peacemaker, a global statesman who helped broker the Good Friday Agreement.
Who was Jean McConville?
You can't talk about Gerry Adams in Say Nothing without talking about the 1972 abduction of Jean McConville. She was a widowed mother of ten living in the Divis Flats. One night, a gang of masked people dragged her away while her children clung to her legs.
She vanished for thirty years.
The IRA eventually admitted to killing her, claiming she was a "tout" or informant. But the Police Ombudsman later found no evidence she ever worked for the British. For the McConville family, the show isn't just a "thriller." It's a reminder of a trauma that hasn't gone away. Michael McConville, her son, has been vocal about how "sickening" it is to see his mother’s murder turned into entertainment.
The Courtroom Reality of 2026
If you think this is all just ancient history, you're wrong. As of early 2026, the legal fallout is still peaking. Gerry Adams is actually scheduled to appear in a UK civil court this year.
The case was brought by victims of IRA bombings in the 70s and 90s. They aren't looking for millions; they're suing for a symbolic £1. Why? Because they want a court to finally rule on whether Adams "oversaw" the IRA’s campaign.
It's a high-stakes moment for the man who has spent decades maintaining a very specific public image. He’s 77 now. He’s retired from the presidency of Sinn Féin. He tweets about rubber ducks and trampolines. But the shadow of the 1970s just won't stop following him.
What Most People Get Wrong
People often think Say Nothing is a definitive history. It’s not. It’s a perspective.
- The Boston Tapes were flawed: A judge in the Ivor Bell case actually ruled the tapes were "unreliable" because the interviewers (like Anthony McIntyre) had an axe to grind against Adams.
- The "Unknowns" mystery: While the show depicts Adams recruiting for this secret unit, physical evidence is non-existent. It’s largely based on the word of Dolours Price, whose mental health was severely declining when she gave her interviews.
- The Peace Process: Some critics argue the show focuses so much on the violence that it misses the genuine miracle of the peace Adams helped build.
Navigating the Truth in Northern Ireland
Trying to find "the truth" about Gerry Adams in Say Nothing is like trying to find a needle in a haystack made of other needles. Everyone has a version.
If you want to understand the reality, you have to look past the cinematic lighting of the TV show. Read the 2006 Police Ombudsman report on Jean McConville. Look at the transcripts from the Ballymurphy Inquest.
The reality is that Northern Ireland is still a "post-conflict" society. The wounds are open. For some, Adams is the hero who ended the war. For others, he’s the man who never took responsibility for the lives he helped destroy.
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Actionable Next Steps:
- Read the source material: If you've only seen the show, pick up Patrick Radden Keefe's book. It offers way more nuance regarding the reliability of the sources.
- Look into the 2026 Civil Case: Keep an eye on the UK High Court proceedings involving John Clark and Jonathan Ganesh for the latest legal rulings on Adams’ alleged leadership.
- Support the families: Check out the work of the Wave Trauma Centre, which supports the families of the "Disappeared" who are still looking for the remains of their loved ones.
The story of the Troubles isn't a closed book. It’s a living document that continues to be rewritten every time a new secret is unearthed or a new witness decides to finally speak.