Gerry Adams has welcomed the "emphatic end" of a High Court damages claim against him by three victims of Provisional IRA bombings and said the case "should never have been brought".

In a statement following today’s announcement, Mr Adams said he attended the trial “out of respect” for the victims and to defend himself “against the smears and false accusations being levelled against me”.

He said: "I asserted the legitimacy of the Republican cause and the right of the people of Ireland to freedom and self-determination. I do so again.