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Gerry Adams freed in Jean McConville murder inquiry Gerry Adams freed in Jean McConville murder inquiry
(35 minutes later)
Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has been released from custody over a 1972 murder and a file will be sent to the Public Prosecution Service.Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has been released from custody over a 1972 murder and a file will be sent to the Public Prosecution Service.
Mr Adams had been questioned at Antrim PSNI Station since Wednesday, after he was arrested in connection with the murder of Jean McConville. Mr Adams had been questioned at Antrim PSNI Station since Wednesday, after he was arrested in connection with the IRA murder of mother of 10 Jean McConville.
The widow, 37, and mother of 10 was abducted from her home in west Belfast, shot and secretly buried by the IRA. The widow, 37, was abducted from her Belfast home, shot and secretly buried.
On Sunday night, loyalists blocked the entrance to Antrim police station. On Sunday, as loyalists blocked the front of the police station, Mr Adams was taken out by a different exit.
However, Mr Adams was taken out of the station by a different exit.
The Sinn Féin leader has always denied involvement in the killing.
Mrs McConville's body was found on a beach in County Louth in 2003.Mrs McConville's body was found on a beach in County Louth in 2003.
The Sinn Féin leader has always denied involvement in the killing.
Police had until 20:00 BST on Sunday to charge or release Mr Adams.Police had until 20:00 BST on Sunday to charge or release Mr Adams.
Mr Adams, a former MP for West Belfast and now an elected representative for County Louth in the Irish parliament, presented himself for interview by prior arrangement with detectives on Wednesday night. He was then arrested under the terrorism act.Mr Adams, a former MP for West Belfast and now an elected representative for County Louth in the Irish parliament, presented himself for interview by prior arrangement with detectives on Wednesday night. He was then arrested under the terrorism act.
He was questioned for two days before the police successfully applied to a judge in Belfast on Friday for a 48-hour extension to his detention period.He was questioned for two days before the police successfully applied to a judge in Belfast on Friday for a 48-hour extension to his detention period.
Sinn Féin had condemned the arrest, claiming it was political and hinting that they might reconsider their support for the police.Sinn Féin had condemned the arrest, claiming it was political and hinting that they might reconsider their support for the police.
However, unionists said no-one should be above the law and Democratic Unionist leader and Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson accused Sinn Féin of trying to "blackmail" the police.However, unionists said no-one should be above the law and Democratic Unionist leader and Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson accused Sinn Féin of trying to "blackmail" the police.
Lawyers to decideLawyers to decide
The decision to release Mr Adams would mean that prosecution lawyers will decide if charges will be brought. The decision to release Mr Adams means that prosecution lawyers will decide if charges will be brought.
The file sent by the police to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) will detail the evidence gathered.The file sent by the police to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) will detail the evidence gathered.
It will be up to PPS lawyers to decide if there is enough evidence to bring any charges and what those charges would be.It will be up to PPS lawyers to decide if there is enough evidence to bring any charges and what those charges would be.
The test for prosecution is met if there is sufficient evidence that can be admitted in court to provide a reasonable prospect of conviction. Lawyers must also decide if the prosecution is required in the public interest.The test for prosecution is met if there is sufficient evidence that can be admitted in court to provide a reasonable prospect of conviction. Lawyers must also decide if the prosecution is required in the public interest.
It could take some time for police to prepare the file for the PPS, with prosecutors then taking a further period to assess whatever evidence is presented.It could take some time for police to prepare the file for the PPS, with prosecutors then taking a further period to assess whatever evidence is presented.
Northern Ireland's director of public prosecutions, Barra McGrory, is a former solicitor for Mr Adams and so will delegate a decision on the file to his deputy. Northern Ireland's director of public prosecutions, Barra McGrory QC, is a former solicitor for Mr Adams and so will delegate a decision on the file to his deputy.
Mrs McConville is one of Northern Ireland's Disappeared, those who were abducted, murdered and buried in secret by republicans during the Troubles.Mrs McConville is one of Northern Ireland's Disappeared, those who were abducted, murdered and buried in secret by republicans during the Troubles.
She was kidnapped in front of her children after being wrongly accused of being an informer to the British Army. She was kidnapped from her home in Divis Flats in west Belfast in front of her children after being wrongly accused of being an informer to the British Army.
Boston College tapesBoston College tapes
Last month, Ivor Bell, 77, a leader in the Provisional IRA in the 1970s, was charged with aiding and abetting the murder, and there have also been a number of other arrests recently.Last month, Ivor Bell, 77, a leader in the Provisional IRA in the 1970s, was charged with aiding and abetting the murder, and there have also been a number of other arrests recently.
The case against Mr Bell is based on an interview he allegedly gave to researchers at Boston College in the US.The case against Mr Bell is based on an interview he allegedly gave to researchers at Boston College in the US.
The Boston College tapes are a series of candid, confessional interviews with former loyalist and republican paramilitaries, designed to be an oral history of the Troubles.The Boston College tapes are a series of candid, confessional interviews with former loyalist and republican paramilitaries, designed to be an oral history of the Troubles.
The paramilitaries were told the tapes would only be made public after their deaths. However, after a series of court cases in the United States, some of the content has been handed over to the authorities.The paramilitaries were told the tapes would only be made public after their deaths. However, after a series of court cases in the United States, some of the content has been handed over to the authorities.
At least one interviewee implicated Mr Adams in the murder of Mrs McConville.At least one interviewee implicated Mr Adams in the murder of Mrs McConville.