Hi °C | Lo °C SINN FEIN leader Gerry Adams's foray into social media is raising eyebrows in the Twittersphere with his bizarre posts outlining his relationship with a collection of cuddly toys.
Amid tweets discussing serious policy matters like the promissory note deal and Magdalene Laundries report, there are accounts of his nights in with a bear called "Ted".
He also tweeted about a bath with a yellow rubber duck, and sipping apparently republican-style coffee at party headquarters.
A Sinn Fein spokeswoman confirmed that the @GerryAdamsSF Twitter account was genuine, adding: "Of course, it's tongue in cheek and he's having a bit of fun with it, but it is him. We're not running it for him or anything like that."
Mr Adams has amassed almost 11,000 followers on Twitter since he first posted on February 6.
Asked if it was an attempt by Mr Adams to brush off long-denied allegations that he was a senior member of the IRA and to present a more "cuddly image", she said: "I'm not saying that about him, but it is genuinely him."
She added: "His image in the media is different to what the man is like personally... This is a little glimpse of him personally."
Mr Adams yesterday tweeted a picture of his dog Snowie, left.
He also recently posted a picture of some teddy bears, which he referred to as "the small people in my life". His tweets are littered with Irish phrases. His spokeswoman said: "He's always trying to improve his Irish, and he is taking classes within the system in Leinster House."
Typical of his output on Twitter was a post on Saturday where he called buying "spuds & fruit" on Dublin's Moore Street "craic maith" and added: "Good coffee in SF Bookshop in Parnell Sq. Tiochfaidh ar latte!!"
In another strange turn yesterday, he tweeted a picture of a 'Babóg' Irish-speaking bear saying: "There is no Teddy Bear like ur own Teddy Bear."
A frequently mentioned cuddly toy, "Ted" has now spawned its own Twitter account, @GerrysTed and is itself followed by Mr Adams.
Mortgage
Meanwhile, it has emerged that Mr Adams has remortgaged his holiday home in Donegal.
Mr Adams first bought the land outside Gorthahork, where the house is situated, 13 years ago with his wife Colette.
Land Registry papers show a new loan from Bank of Ireland Mortgage Bank was recorded on the property on November 30, 2012.
Irish Independent
