Adams’ murder probe arrest ‘political’

Sinn Féin has claimed last night’s arrest of Gerry Adams in connection with the abduction and murder of Jean McConville more than 40 years ago was "politically motivated" and designed to damage the party and its leader.

Shortly after 8.30pm last night, the Police Service of Northern Ireland issued a tweet saying: “A 65 year-old man has been arrested this evening in connection with the abduction and murder of Jean McConville in December 1972”.

It later said he had presented himself at Antrim police station and was last night being interviewed at the station’s serious crime suite.

Just before 9pm, Sinn Féin issued a statement, apparently scripted before Mr Adams was arrested, in which he was quoted as saying: “Last month I said that I was available to meet the PSNI about the Jean McConville case.

“While I have concerns about the timing, I am voluntarily meeting with the PSNI this evening.”

He said he believed the killing of Jean McConville and the secret burial of her body was “wrong and a grievous injustice to her and her family”.

“Well-publicised, malicious allegations have been made against me. I reject these,” he said.

“While I have never disassociated myself from the IRA and I never will, I am innocent of any part in the abduction, killing or burial of Mrs McConville.”

The party issued a second statement a short time later in which deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald said Mr Adams, 65, was right to confront the issue.

“There has been a concerted and malicious effort to link Gerry Adams to this case for some considerable time,” she said.

“He has consistently and forthrightly rejected any suggestion that he had any part in what happened to Jean McConville 42 years ago or that he has any information about these dreadful events.

“I believe the timing of this latest decision by the PSNI is politically motivated and designed to damage Gerry Adams and Sinn Féin.”

Mrs McConville, a widow, was dragged away from her children in her home in the Divis flats, west Belfast, by an IRA gang of up to 12 men and women after being accused of passing information to the British army.

An investigation later carried out by the Northern Ireland Police ombudsman rejected the claims that she was an informer. She was shot in the back of the head and buried 80km from her home. Her remains were found on Shelling Hill beach, Co Louth, in 2003.

The IRA did not admit her murder until 1999 when information was passed to gardaí.

In March of this year a veteran republican, 77-year-old Ivor Bell, was charged in connection with the killing. Mr Bell, from Ramoan Gardens in Belfast, was charged last month with aiding and abetting the murder.

There have also been a number of other arrests over the killing recently but no one has, as yet, been charged with the murder.