Liam Adams, brother of Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams, wants to be tried in the Republic because he claims he would not get a fair trial in Northern Ireland.

Sources have said that Adams told gardai that he wanted to face trial in the Republic.

“He indicated he would not get a fair trial in the North because of the wall to wall coverage the case is receiving,” a source said yesterday.

Adams, who is in his 50s, spent over two hours being interviewed by senior gardai at the Pearse Road station in Sligo town.

He is denying allegations by his daughter Aine Tyrrell, who waived her right to anonymity, that her father had sexually abused and raped her from the age of four.

Last weekend the Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams spoke publicly in support of his niece and appealed for his brother to hand himself into the authorities.

Liam Adams also claimed to gardai that he has been living in Belfast.

A Garda source said he had “appeared cool and calm” but had been “evasive” when some questions were put to him. He indicated he had a solicitor in Belfast.

The questioning ended just before 11pm and he left Sligo Garda Station, giving gardai details of a local bed and breakfast where he was staying that night.

But he left the town the following evening and may have travelled back across the border.

It is also understood that Mr Adams did not leave contact details with gardai but indicated he was willing to make himself available again and would make contact with them.