McConvilles urged to unite for funeral

RELATIVES of IRA murder victim Jean McConville — shot in 1972 for helping a dying British soldier — were last night urged to unite around their mother’s grave.

Mrs McConville's remains were found on beach in August. The 37-year-old Protestant had 10 children, many of whom were put in care after her death.

A priest who helped the family during their ordeal said he hoped Mrs McConville's daughter Helen would attend the funeral this weekend. Helen McKendry claimed she had been told to stay away from the service after she fell out with her brothers and sisters over arrangements. Although she accompanied the coffin from Dublin yesterday, the 47-year-old did not follow it to her brother Michael's house Prominent Northern priest Monsignor Denis Faul said he hoped the relatives would join together in their mourning. "The family must unite around their mother's grave. I hope Helen herself will unite, it would be a wonderful lesson to all of us and to them.