Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has revealed that his late father subjected family members to emotional, physical and sexual abuse.
In an interview with RTÉ News, Mr Adams spoke about the issues and also called on his brother, Liam, to give himself up to the authorities.
Liam Adams is wanted by the PSNI so that he can answer charges of abuse against his daughter over a period of several years during her childhood.
Gerry Adams urged his brother to go to the PSNI for the sake of his niece Áine, Liam's daughter.
Mr Adams explained that he only discovered when he was 50 years old that his father, Gerry Adams Senior, had also abused some of his own children.
The Sinn Féin president said his father was in denial for many years about his actions and he eventually died a lonely old man.
Mr Adams said that he had a personal dilemma when his father's coffin was covered in the Tricolour, as he said he felt his father had 'besmirched' the flag.
He said the police were not involved because his father's victims did not want to contact them.
Mr Adams said all the abuse was 'historic' and no children were at risk when the abuse was eventually revealed.
Regarding Liam Adams, Gerry Adams said that there is no evidence that his brother has abused any children other than his own daughter.
Mr Adams said that he had tried to have his brother 'kicked out' of Sinn Féin.
He said that perhaps he should have taken more personal initiative in dealing with the issues but as all the victims were adults now, it was for them to decide to take legal action.
