The very public involvement of Liam Adams in Sinn Fein was even reported in the party's own newspaper An Phoblacht, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal today.

Gerry Adams has said he “moved immediately” to get his brother “drummed out” of Sinn Fein on learning of his party involvement in the 1990s.

But that “immediately” claim has come under fire, as details emerged of Liam Adams repeatedly engaging in high-profile party activities. An Phoblacht reported in June 1996 on Martin McGuinness, fresh from an election victory, opening a Sinn Fein advice centre in Dundalk.

It said: “Then in the company of Liam Adams of the North Louth Sinn Fein Comhairle Ceantair and other party members McGuinness walked through the town and from the amount of heads turned, fingers pointed, and hands shook the impact of the Sinn Fein election result was clearly felt south of the border too.”

The An Phoblacht report also carried a picture showing Liam Adams applauding at a Dundalk rally being addressed by Mr McGuinness. Gerry Adams admitted last month that in 1987 he had learned about — and believed — allegations that his brother Liam had abused his daughter Aine Tyrell.

Challenged over his brother's bid to stand for Sinn Fein in Co Louth in 1997, Mr Adams said: “When I heard Liam was in Sinn Féin, and when I heard somebody was putting it about that perhaps he would be a candidate, I moved immediately both to stop that and get him dumped out of Sinn Fein.”

The following facts have since emerged:

l Liam Adams was pictured by a local newspaper in June 1997 canvassing with his MP brother in Dundalk alongside the party veteran who had won the Co Louth nomination.

l Liam Adams chaired an IRA commemoration event in Co Louth in November 1997 addressed by senior Sinn Fein figure Mitchel McLaughlin.

l Liam Adams was also pictured beside Martin McGuinness at the ribbon-cutting for Sinn Fein's new advice centre in 1996. A newspaper caption described him as chairman of the party's Louth comhairle ceantair.

l Sinn Fein's own newspaper also reported the central involvement of Liam Adams in this office-opening event.

Liam Adams is being sought by the PSNI in relation to the allegations, which he denies.