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| Jean McConville murder: Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams will not face Disappeared charges | Jean McConville murder: Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams will not face Disappeared charges |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams will not face charges in connection with the IRA murder of Jean McConville, the Public Prosecution Service has confirmed. | Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams will not face charges in connection with the IRA murder of Jean McConville, the Public Prosecution Service has confirmed. |
| Six other people, including Bobby Storey, Sinn Féin's northern chairman, will also not face charges linked to the 1972 killing. | Six other people, including Bobby Storey, Sinn Féin's northern chairman, will also not face charges linked to the 1972 killing. |
| Jean McConville, 37, a widow, was abducted from her west Belfast home, shot and secretly buried. | Jean McConville, 37, a widow, was abducted from her west Belfast home, shot and secretly buried. |
| Mr Adams said the decision was "long overdue". | |
| "There was never any real basis for questioning me in respect of this case. I played no act or part in Jean McConville's death," he said. | |
| Mrs McConville was one of the Disappeared. Nobody has ever been charged with her murder. Her son, Michael, has pledged to continue to seek justice for his mother. | |
| The Disappeared were people who were abducted, murdered and secretly buried by republicans during the Troubles. Jean McConville's case has been one of the most high profile. | The Disappeared were people who were abducted, murdered and secretly buried by republicans during the Troubles. Jean McConville's case has been one of the most high profile. |
| Her body was found on a beach in County Louth in 2003. | Her body was found on a beach in County Louth in 2003. |
| Who was Jean McConville? | Who was Jean McConville? |
| Who were the Disappeared? | Who were the Disappeared? |
| It emerged on Tuesday, that Mr Adams would not be charged with IRA membership either. | |
| The deputy director of public prosecutions, Pamela Atchison, said: "We have given careful consideration to the evidence currently available in respect of each of the three men and four women reported and have concluded that it is insufficient to provide a reasonable prospect of obtaining a conviction against any of them for a criminal offence." | |
| She also spoke about Mrs McConville's family. | She also spoke about Mrs McConville's family. |
| "We have had a series of meetings with members of the family, most recently this morning, about all of our prosecutorial decisions and we will continue to engage with them as we progress the prosecution of Ivor Bell." | "We have had a series of meetings with members of the family, most recently this morning, about all of our prosecutorial decisions and we will continue to engage with them as we progress the prosecution of Ivor Bell." |
| Veteran republican Ivor Bell, 78, has been charged with aiding and abetting Mrs McConville's murder. | Veteran republican Ivor Bell, 78, has been charged with aiding and abetting Mrs McConville's murder. |
| Speaking after meeting the Public Prosecution Service on Tuesday, Mrs McConville's son, Michael, said: "Those who ordered, planned and carried out this war crime thought that their guilt could disappear along with her body. | |
| "But it has not, and we will continue to seek justice for our mother and see those responsible held to account no matter how long it takes". | "But it has not, and we will continue to seek justice for our mother and see those responsible held to account no matter how long it takes". |
| In May 2014, Mr Adams presented himself at a police station and was subsequently arrested for questioning about her murder. | In May 2014, Mr Adams presented himself at a police station and was subsequently arrested for questioning about her murder. |
| He was released after four days and said there had been "a sustained, malicious, untruthful campaign" alleging that he had been involved in the killing. | He was released after four days and said there had been "a sustained, malicious, untruthful campaign" alleging that he had been involved in the killing. |
| His party also criticised the decision to hold him, claiming that it was politically motivated, coming weeks before the European and local government elections. | His party also criticised the decision to hold him, claiming that it was politically motivated, coming weeks before the European and local government elections. |
| In response to the decision not to prosecute him, Mr Adams said: "I support the PSNI. But the timing of my arrest showed there remain elements within the PSNI who are against Sinn Féin. But they will not succeed. | |
| "I voluntarily went to the PSNI last year, after a concerted series of leaks claiming that I was about to be arrested. For some time, I have been the target of a sustained and malicious campaign seeking to involve me with the killing of Mrs McConville." | |
| He added that he was "very conscious" of the huge hurt inflicted on the McConville family. | |
| "The abduction, killing and secret burial of Jean McConville was wrong," he said. |