Adams again denies involvement in McConville killing

SINN FÉIN president Gerry Adams has again denied any involvement in the abduction and killing of Jean McConville after her family held a protest against his bid for a Dáil seat.

While acknowledging that “Irish republicans” had carried out Ms McConville’s murder, Mr Adams said he personally had “nothing to do” with it.

Relatives of Ms McConville handed out “Anyone but Adams” leaflets over the weekend in Co Louth, where her body was uncovered in 2003 and where Mr Adams is standing for election.

The Sinn Féin leader said he respected the family’s right to demonstrate.

“I have to say that in whatever strongest way possible I can articulate it that I had nothing to do with the abduction and the killing of that unfortunate woman,” Mr Adams said.

“I have already condemned it, I have apologised for it because Irish republicans committed that offence, and if the family want to protest, as they have, that’s a matter for them.”

Ms McConville was abducted, killed and secretly buried by the IRA in Co Louth in 1972. Her body was found in 2003 only after intense pressure was put on the IRA to reveal the burial places of “The Disappeared”.

Her daughter Helen McKendry handed out leaflets in Dundalk on Saturday asking people not to vote for Mr Adams. She held a placard urging people to remember her mother, as well as Tom Oliver, also abducted and killed by the IRA, and Detective Garda Jerry McCabe.

“I understand and I respect their right to protest,” Mr Adams said. “This is a very, very serious charge. It’s a charge which is at the very core of me as an Irish republican.

“I’ve been very straightforward in trying to deal with it,” he said.

Mr Adams was speaking outside the headquarters of Anglo Irish Bank in Dublin yesterday, where he launched a new party billboard against the bank bailout.

The Sinn Féin president said a referendum should be held on the bailout so that the people could have their say.

“The banking system is busted. Irish people cannot afford to pay the billions the Fianna Fáil/Green government and Labour and Fine Gael have agreed to,” he said.

“But it is not too late. The banking system can be fixed. The economy can be regenerated. This requires jobs and not digouts to toxic banks. Sinn Féin is calling for a consultative referendum on this issue.

“It burdens every citizen, our children, our grandchildren and our great grandchildren.

“The people should have their say. There should be a referendum,” he said.