[3] Adams, who lived near the Maze Prison and served as a community worker in the area, joined the Ulster Democratic Party (UDP) after being encouraged to do so by Ray Smallwoods.
[3] Nonetheless Adams continued to work towards delivering a ceasefire and was described by Henry McDonald and Jim Cusack as "one of the moderate voices advising the UDA, even in the darkest days".
[10] A few days after the announcement Adams joined Spence, McMichael, Joe English and the PUP's David Ervine and Billy Hutchinson on a tour of the United States where amongst their engagements was one as guests of honour of the National Committee on American Foreign Policy.
[14] On 7 January 1998 Adams travelled with McMichael to London where the two held a hastily arranged meeting with Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam.
The recent killing of Loyalist Volunteer Force leader Billy Wright, who had a lot of support amongst elements of the UDA made the ceasefire shaky.
[19] As the UDA ceasefire fell apart and the UDP passed from existence, Adams left politics and instead headed up a number of community projects in his native Lisburn.
[21] By this point Adams, along with Gary McMichael, had disavowed any connection to the UDA and the pair were targeted for intimidation as a consequence, with his car vandalised and hate mail sent to his home.