The PSNI are understood to be interviewing Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams this evening in relation to the abduction and murder of Jean McConville.
The IRA admitted its involvement with Mrs McConville’s murder in 1999 but nobody has yet been convicted in relation to the case. Jean McConville was abducted from her flat by the IRA in December of 1972 and the mum-of-ten became known as one of ‘The Disappeared.’ Her body was recovered on a County Louth beach in August 2003.
Mr Adams denies any involvement in the case and previously stated that he had asked his solicitor to contact the PSNI on the matter to inform them that he was available to speak to them.
“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 confirmed in a statement this evening.
A tweet was posted to the official Twitter account of the PSNI in the last hour, confirming that a 65-year-old man had been arrested in relation to the case.
A 65 year old man has been arrested this evening in connection with the abduction and murder of Jean McConville in December 1972.
— PSNI (@PoliceServiceNI) April 30, 2014
Sinn Féín has also released a statement responding to the development, with Deputy Leader Mary Lou McDonald saying that the timing was “politically motivated and designed to damage Gerry Adams and Sinn Féin”.
“Last month, Gerry Adams said that he was available to meet the PSNI about the Jean McConville case. That meeting is now taking place. Gerry Adams is right to confront this issue. There has been a concerted and malicious effort to link Gerry Adams to this case for some considerable time.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. It is Sinn Féin’s view that legacy issues and dealing with the past, including past conflict events, are best addressed through an independent, international, truth recovery process. In the absence of that, we have agreed to and are seeking the implementation of the Haass compromise proposals. These include the right of families to choose whether to pursue legal action or to seek maximum truth recovery.”
