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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 criticised the timing of his arrest over the murder of Jean McConville. Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has criticised the timing of his arrest over the IRA murder of Jean McConville.
On Sunday, Mr Adams was released from custody over the 1972 murder. A file will be sent to the Public Prosecution Service. Speaking after his release following four days of questioning, Mr Adams said there was a "sustained, malicious, untruthful campaign" alleging his involvement in the 1972 killing.
He said police could have used discretion and not arrested him during an election campaign, when he offered to answer questions two months ago. A file will be sent to the Public Prosecution Service, police said as he was released.
He said there was a "malicious" and "sinister" campaign against him. Mrs McConville's son said the family's fight for justice would continue.
Meanwhile, Mrs McConville's son Michael said the family's fight for justice would continue. "The McConville family is going to stay to the bitter end until we get justice," Michael McConville said.
"The McConville family is going to stay to the bitter end until we get justice," he said.
Speaking at a press conference in Belfast following his release, Mr Adams said police did not need to use "pernicious, coercive legislation to deal with a legacy issue".Speaking at a press conference in Belfast following his release, Mr Adams said police did not need to use "pernicious, coercive legislation to deal with a legacy issue".
He said police had conducted 33 taped interviews and detectives had presented him with old photographs of himself and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and with interviews conducted by people who were "enemies of the peace process".He said police had conducted 33 taped interviews and detectives had presented him with old photographs of himself and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and with interviews conducted by people who were "enemies of the peace process".
He added he did not go to Antrim police station "expecting special treatment" but said his arrest had sent out the "wrong signal". He added he did not go to Antrim police station "expecting special treatment", but said his arrest had sent out the "wrong signal".
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 Mrs 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 Mrs McConville.
Mr Adams again said he was innocent of any involvement in Mrs McConville's murder. He again said he was innocent of any involvement in her murder.
He said Sinn Féin remained fully committed to the political process in Northern Ireland. "The IRA is gone, it's finished," he added.He said Sinn Féin remained fully committed to the political process in Northern Ireland. "The IRA is gone, it's finished," he added.
"I want to make it clear that I support the PSNI.""I want to make it clear that I support the PSNI."
Mrs McConville, a 37-year-old widow, was abducted from her Belfast home, shot and secretly buried. Jean McConville, a 37-year-old widow, was abducted from her Belfast home, shot and secretly buried.
Her body was found on a beach in County Louth in 2003.Her body was found on a beach in County Louth in 2003.
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.
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 him.
On Sunday, as loyalists blocked the front of the police station, Mr Adams was taken out by a different exit.On Sunday, as loyalists blocked the front of the police station, Mr Adams was taken out by a different exit.
Other political parties have rejected claims that the timing of the arrest was political.
Democratic Unionist Jeffrey Donaldson said: "There is nothing within the law of Northern Ireland or the UK that says that during an election campaign the police have to suspend the investigation of murder.
"That would be absurd and would be political policing."
'Threats and tantrums'
Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt said: "The point about it is the sequence was kicked off by Gerry Adams himself when he said that he would be willing to talk to the police.
"Why it took the police a number of weeks to take him up on that offer is for them to explain."
Social Democratic and Labour Party leader Alasdair McDonnell said: "I see the fact that Gerry Adams presented himself voluntarily to a police station. As the timing was his, I find it hard to justify when there would be an appropriate time to arrest a political leader."
Northern Ireland Justice Minister David Ford of Alliance said he saw politicians from a variety of backgrounds seeking to interfere in policing.
"I think politicians would be extremely well advised to steer out of allegations of political policing," he said.
The Traditional Unionist Voice party said: "The release of Adams without charge raises serious questions as to how far the authorities blinked in the face of Sinn Fein threats and tantrums."
Lawyers to decideLawyers to decide
The decision to release Mr Adams means 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 QC, 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 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.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.