This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-27280446

The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
McConville fight for justice goes on as Adams freed McConville son says Gerry Adams 'threatened backlash'
(35 minutes later)
The son of Jean McConville, a mother-of-10 murdered by the IRA more than 40 years ago, has said his family's fight for justice will go on. A son of murder victim Jean McConville has said he felt Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams had threatened him with a "backlash" if he released the names of those he believed killed her.
Michael McConville was speaking after Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams was released without charge after being questioned over the 1972 killing. Mr Adams was released without charge after being questioned for four days about the 1972 killing.
Mr Adams claimed there was a "sustained, malicious, untruthful campaign" against him. He claimed there was a "sustained, malicious, untruthful campaign" against him.
Mr McConville said his family would fight "to the bitter end" for justice. It is believed police had wanted to charge Mr Adams with IRA membership.
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. It is likely that police would have considered such a charge before he was released on Sunday night, but did not have sufficient evidence for a reasonable prospect of prosecution.
"These have been quite difficult days for the McConville family and they have been very stressful. We would like the people to know that the family is going to stay to the bitter end until we get justice for our mother," Michael McConville said. Jean McConville, a 37-year-old widow and mother-of-10, was abducted from her Belfast home, shot and secretly buried. Her body was found on a beach in County Louth in 2003.
"We know it is going to be a long road, but we have already been fighting for justice for 40 odd years and we are not going to stop now." 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 for the British Army.
'Pernicious' Her son Michael said his family would fight "to the bitter end" for justice.
He said he had met Mr Adams around the time that the then Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan was drawing up a report that would go on to dismiss claims Mrs McConville was an informer.
Mr McConville said: "Gerry Adams says to me, 'Michael, you are getting a letter of support from the republican people'.
"He says 'if you release the names I hope you are ready for the backlash' - I took it as a threat."
Mr Adams, the former MP for West Belfast and current representative for County Louth in the Irish parliament, presented himself for interview by prior arrangement with detectives on Wednesday night.Mr Adams, the former MP for West Belfast and current 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 for questioning about the IRA murder of mother-of-10 Mrs McConville. He was then arrested under the terrorism act for questioning about the IRA murder of Mrs McConville.
He was freed four days later on Sunday. Police said a file would be sent to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS).
Speaking at a news conference in Belfast following his release, Mr Adams said he had contacted Northern Ireland police two months ago about the McConville case.Speaking at a news conference in Belfast following his release, Mr Adams said he had contacted Northern Ireland police two months ago about the McConville case.
He questioned the timing of his arrest in the middle of an election campaign and claimed they could have used discretion rather than "pernicious, coercive legislation" to deal with the matter.He questioned the timing of his arrest in the middle of an election campaign and claimed they could have used discretion rather than "pernicious, coercive legislation" to deal with the matter.
The Sinn Féin leader said during his time in custody, 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 again said he was innocent of any involvement in Mrs McConville's murder.
He said he did not go to Antrim police station "expecting special treatment", but said his arrest had sent out the "wrong signal".
He again said he was innocent of any involvement in Jean McConville's murder.
He said Sinn Féin remained fully committed to the political process in Northern Ireland. "The IRA is gone, it's finished," he said.He said Sinn Féin remained fully committed to the political process in Northern Ireland. "The IRA is gone, it's finished," he said.
"I want to make it clear that I support the PSNI.""I want to make it clear that I support the PSNI."
'Excuse'
Northern Ireland Justice Minister David Ford said he "saw no reason" why Mr Adams' release without charge would damage confidence in the police.Northern Ireland Justice Minister David Ford said he "saw no reason" why Mr Adams' release without charge would damage confidence in the police.
"With the way that Northern Ireland politics operates, there is never a good time to do anything - if it had been before Christmas it would have been the Haass talks; as soon as the election campaign is over, people would be talking about a difficult marching season," said the Alliance Party leader."With the way that Northern Ireland politics operates, there is never a good time to do anything - if it had been before Christmas it would have been the Haass talks; as soon as the election campaign is over, people would be talking about a difficult marching season," said the Alliance Party leader.
"You could always produce an excuse for the police not to do their duty at any time.""You could always produce an excuse for the police not to do their duty at any time."
On Sunday, as loyalists blocked the front of the police station, Mr Adams was taken out by a different exit. Evidence gathered
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.
It is understood that police want to charge Mr Adams with IRA membership.
It is likely that the police would have considered such a charge before he was released on Sunday night, but did not have sufficient evidence that provided a reasonable prospect of prosecution.
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.
Boston 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.
One of the academics involved at the outset of the project said it had been "a car crash".One of the academics involved at the outset of the project said it had been "a car crash".
Lord Bew of Queen's University, Belfast, said: "I think that one of the sad things is that, first of all most importantly, not one whit of improvement has occurred for those who have suffered during the Troubles.Lord Bew of Queen's University, Belfast, said: "I think that one of the sad things is that, first of all most importantly, not one whit of improvement has occurred for those who have suffered during the Troubles.
"Academically, there is a freeze now around all similar projects and that has to be regretted.""Academically, there is a freeze now around all similar projects and that has to be regretted."