McConville’s daughter will risk life to name killers

One of the daughters of Jean McConville has said she is prepared to risk her life by revealing the identities of the 12 people she believes are responsible for her mother’s death more than 40 years ago.

Mrs McConville, 37, a widow and mother-of-ten, was seized from her home in the Divis flats in west Belfast, interrogated, shot in the back of the head and then secretly buried by an IRA gang in December 1972.

Her body was found on a beach in Co Louth years later, in 2003, 80km from her home.

But despite seven arrests, the only suspect charged to date in relation to the case is veteran republican Ivor Bell.

The 77-year-old former IRA negotiator with the British government has been charged with aiding and abetting the murder, which he denies.

However, Helen McKendry, 56 — one of Mrs McCovnville’s children — said she is convinced she knows the identities of the people who kidnapped and killed her mother.

And in an interview with The Observer the mother-of-five she said she is prepared to cooperate with authorities to finally bring the perpetrators to justice.

She said: “I will name names. I am not scared of dying. If I die, I know I have five children who will carry on the campaign.

Just over two months ago Sinn Féin leader and Louth TD Gerry Adams was arrested by the PSNI in connection with the murder,

Following his release he stressed he was innocent of involvement in her murder.

But Mrs McKendry said in yesterday’s interview that she is considering mounting a civil action against him — if there is not evidence for the Public Prosecution Service to proceed.

Mrs McKendry’s husband, Seamus, revealed he has previously confronted Adams in 1995. “It was all the usual bullshit. [He said] ‘Sinn Féin can say categorically they aren’t involved.’ He wouldn’t look Helen in the eye.”