Kenny attack on Adams a gratuitous use of McConville killing

The family of Jean McConville, the Belfast mother of 10 who was abducted and murdered in 1972, and whose body was discovered on a beach in County Louth in 2003, have suffered extensively over the years. It has been suggested that Ms McConville was killed for passing information to the British army.

The attack by the Taoiseach on Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams over the killing of Ms McConville during the budget debate on the respite care grant (Irish Examiner, Dec 11) was patronising and a cynical exploitation of Jean McConville’s killing. Mr Kenny gratuitously used her killing and the Northern Bank robbery as a smokescreen to deflect Budget criticism from Mr Adams. This behaviour was unbridled opportunism and belittles the office of Taoiseach.

It is an affront to this lady and her family for Mr Kenny to express his moral indignation at Jean McConville’s killing when he has it in his gift as Taoiseach to initiate a full public inquiry in an attempt to bring to justice those responsible.