Son of Jean McConville: Fight for justice will go on as Gerry Adams freed

Gerry Adams was freed without charge as there was not enough evidence for a reasonable prospect of prosecution.

15:59 05 May 2014

Former MP for West Belfast and current representative for County Louth Gerry Adams has been released without charge after being questioned for the killing of 37-year-old, mother-of-10 Jean McConville in 1972 after being wrongly accused of being an informer for the British Army. 

 

McConville was abducted from her Belfast home, shot, and secretly buried. Her body was found in 2003 on a beach in County Louth. 

 

Her son Michael said that his family would fight “to the bitter end” for justice. He added that he spoke to Mr Adams around the time that the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan was drawing up a report. 

 

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."

 

Meanwhile, Mr Adams has spoken at a news conference in Belfast following his release where he questioned the timing of his arrest in the middle of an election campaign. He maintained his innocence of any involvement in Mrs McConville’s murder.