Legislating about Gerry Adams and Carltona

July 2, 2025

This paper builds on a paper published in January 2025 and explains how the Government can legislate (a) to stop Gerry Adams being paid public money for his detention in the 1970s and (b) to restore the Carltona principle. While new legislation is not strictly necessary, if the Government is determined to legislate, the paper sets out a draft enactment that will solve the problem that the Government has said it intends to address. The paper shows that the draft enactment would be compatible with Convention rights. 

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Authors

Richard Ekins KC (Hon)

Head of the Judicial Power Project

Sir Stephen Laws

Senior Fellow, Judicial Power Project


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