Gerry Adams to contact PSNI about Jean McConville murder

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has asked his lawyer to contact police to establish if detectives want to speak to him about the murder of Belfast mother-of-10 Jean McConville.

The move comes after 77-year-old Ivor Bell was charged last Saturday with aiding and abetting the notorious 1972 IRA murder.

As Bell, from Ramoan Gardens in west Belfast, was remanded in custody, Belfast Magistrates Court heard police moved against him on the basis of an interview he allegedly gave to Boston College researchers.

Other republicans interviewed for the Boston College Troubles archive project have alleged Mr Adams had a role in ordering Mrs McConville’s death.

The Sinn Féin leader has vehemently rejected allegations linking him to the murder. Mr Adams reiterated that denial yesterday in response to “media speculation” that the PSNI wanted to speak to him: “I can understand the McConville family’s anger and hurt, given what they have been through and given what some anti-peace process former republican activists have been alleging.

“However, let me repeat. What happened to Jean McConville was a terrible injustice. I was not involved in any part of it. If the PSNI wish to talk to me on this matter I am available to meet them. I have asked my solicitor to contact them.”

Former paramilitaries gave interviews on the understanding transcripts would not be published until after their deaths but that undertaking was rendered ineffective when a US court ordered that tapes touching on Mrs McConville’s death be given to PSNI detectives.

Mr Adams heavily criticised the oral history project: “Some of the individuals interviewed have gone to great lengths to attack the republican struggle, the peace process and the political process through lies, distortions and personal attacks.

“The Boston History project is not a genuine oral history project.”