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Updated at 11:10pm
SINN FÉIN LEADER Gerry Adams will not face prosecution in connection with the murder of Jean McConville.
Adams was arrested last year over the murder and was held by the PSNI for four nights.
A 37-year-old mother-of-ten, Jean McConville was taken from her west Belfast home in December 1972. She was shot by the IRA, but her body was not recovered until August of 2003.
Today, the north’s Public Prosecution Service announced Adams and six others will not be prosecuted over the murder. Former IRA chief-of-staff , 78-year-old Ivor Bell, is awaiting prosecution.
Outlining the decision today, 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.
The evidence against the seven arose from a number of different sources and included the PPS says: hearsay evidence provided by the American authorities from the Boston College Belfast Project.
In considering the evidence, PPS addressed a range of offences directly and indirectly connected with the murder of Jean McConville. Bell is charged with soliciting the murder.
Atchison added that the McConville family have been kept abreast of the decision.
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 thank them for the positive way that they have engaged with us at each stage of the process.”
‘Hurt inflicted’
Responding to today’s news, Adams said the decision was “long overdue”.
“There was never any real basis for questioning me in respect of this case,” he added in a lengthy statement. “I played no act or part in Jean McConville’s death.”
The Sinn Féin president claimed he has long been the target of a “sustained and malicious campaign” looking to link him with the murder.
“I am also very conscious of the huge hurt inflicted on the McConville family,” Adams continued.
“The abduction, killing and secret burial of Jean McConville was wrong.”
McConville’s son Michael, who was present the night his mother was taken from their home, said he was “shattered” by the decision not to charge Adams or the six others.
“We will continue to seek justice for our mother and see those responsible held to account no matter how long it takes,” he said.
First published at 1:30pm. With reporting by Sinéad O’Carroll and AFP.
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If Balour was Lú’s grandfather, who was his father?
Love my Sunday morning Irish lesson with my weekly cup of cuppachino.
An Lu Abu
Suimiúil, mar is gnáth. Buíochas, Darach.
Thought Baylor was killed by his son in law Cian
@Deirdre Frances: I thought that he succumbed to an unstoppable dose of diarrhoea which he acquired from listening to too much bullshite
@Deirdre Frances: You might have it a little backwards. Cian was killed by Balor because he got a little frisky with Balor’s young wan, Eithnu. The child of that coupling was Lú, who Balor then pegged into the sea only for Manandán the sea-God to raise him. He became king and lead an army against Balor where to hoofed a slingstone (or spear in other versions) through his head. When Balor fell dead his laser-eye opened and carved a hole through the earth which filled with water and became Loch na Súl in Sligo.
@John Mc Donagh: do you only get your above demonstrated type of verbal diarrhoea by thinking people still believe in this mythology as fact?
@Hawm Quinzy: thanks for the article and sound response …
The All Irelands go on all summer..but the finals are in September ..sorry if I doybd pedantic.
It may be Mythology… but isnt it fascinating reading even for the PBP, who are not really fior Gaels,….but Ton le Gaoithe…
have your say