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Gerry Adams Questioned Over Murder From 1972 Gerry Adams Questioned Over Murder From 1972
(35 minutes later)
LONDON — The president of Sinn Fein, Gerry Adams, was arrested and questioned Wednesday night about the 1972 abduction and murder of a widowed mother of 10, whose body was found on a beach in the Irish Republic in 2003, according to the Sinn Fein website and the police in Northern Ireland.LONDON — The president of Sinn Fein, Gerry Adams, was arrested and questioned Wednesday night about the 1972 abduction and murder of a widowed mother of 10, whose body was found on a beach in the Irish Republic in 2003, according to the Sinn Fein website and the police in Northern Ireland.
Mr. Adams, 65, a former member of Parliament for West Belfast, said he was innocent of any involvement in the notorious affair, and had presented himself to the Northern Ireland police in Antrim by prearrangement. He is currently a member of the Irish parliament, the Dail, from County Louth.Mr. Adams, 65, a former member of Parliament for West Belfast, said he was innocent of any involvement in the notorious affair, and had presented himself to the Northern Ireland police in Antrim by prearrangement. He is currently a member of the Irish parliament, the Dail, from County Louth.
Although “the Troubles,” the violence that convulsed Northern Ireland for three decades until the Good Friday peace accord of 1998, might, for many, seem like events rapidly receding into the realm of history, the arrest of Mr. Adams suggests that their legacy retains a powerful grip.Although “the Troubles,” the violence that convulsed Northern Ireland for three decades until the Good Friday peace accord of 1998, might, for many, seem like events rapidly receding into the realm of history, the arrest of Mr. Adams suggests that their legacy retains a powerful grip.
It was history — an oral history archive across the Atlantic at Boston College — that prompted investigators to re-examine the abduction and murder of the widow, Jean McConville. Mrs. McConville, who was 37, was taken from her apartment in West Belfast just before Christmas and fatally shot, in the belief that she had informed on the Irish Republican Army.It was history — an oral history archive across the Atlantic at Boston College — that prompted investigators to re-examine the abduction and murder of the widow, Jean McConville. Mrs. McConville, who was 37, was taken from her apartment in West Belfast just before Christmas and fatally shot, in the belief that she had informed on the Irish Republican Army.
Four years before her body was found, in 1999, the Irish Republican Army admitted killing her. In March, Ivor Bell, 77, a leader of the I.R.A. in the 1970s, was charged with aiding and abetting the murder. Four years before her body was found, in 1999, the I.R.A. admitted killing her. In March, Ivor Bell, 77, a leader of the I.R.A. in the 1970s, was charged with aiding and abetting the murder. Prosecutors said evidence against him had emerged from the Boston College tapes, an archive of interviews conducted with former paramilitary fighters.
The Boston College tapes, an archive of conversations conducted with former paramilitary fighters, included interviews with two former members of the I.R.A., now dead, who detailed their involvement in bombings as well as executions and kidnappings, including that of Mrs. McConville. The two, Brendan Hughes and Dolours Price, the former wife of the actor Stephen Rea, also accused Mr. Adams of authorizing the abduction, a claim Mr. Adams has repeatedly and strongly denied. In the tapes, two former members of the I.R.A., now dead, detailed their involvement in bombings as well as executions and kidnappings, including that of Mrs. McConville. The two, Brendan Hughes and Dolours Price, the former wife of the actor Stephen Rea, also accused Mr. Adams of authorizing the abduction, a claim Mr. Adams has repeatedly and strongly denied.
Prosecutors in the United States, at the request of British authorities, subpoenaed the archive, which they had learned about from an interview that Ms. Price had given to an Irish newspaper.Prosecutors in the United States, at the request of British authorities, subpoenaed the archive, which they had learned about from an interview that Ms. Price had given to an Irish newspaper.
In a statement on Wednesday, Sinn Fein, once the “political wing” of the I.R.A. and now a political party, said that last month Mr. Adams told the police he was available to talk about the case. Mr. Adams said that “while I have never disassociated myself from the I.R.A. and never will, I am innocent of any part in the abduction, killing or burial of Mrs. McConville.”In a statement on Wednesday, Sinn Fein, once the “political wing” of the I.R.A. and now a political party, said that last month Mr. Adams told the police he was available to talk about the case. Mr. Adams said that “while I have never disassociated myself from the I.R.A. and never will, I am innocent of any part in the abduction, killing or burial of Mrs. McConville.”
She was listed as one of the 16 people who were “disappeared” by the I.R.A.; at least seven of them have never been found.She was listed as one of the 16 people who were “disappeared” by the I.R.A.; at least seven of them have never been found.
In his statement, Mr. Adams said that he condemned the murder as “a grievous injustice” and said: “As a republican leader, I have never shirked my responsibility to build the peace. This includes dealing with the difficult issue of victims and their families.”In his statement, Mr. Adams said that he condemned the murder as “a grievous injustice” and said: “As a republican leader, I have never shirked my responsibility to build the peace. This includes dealing with the difficult issue of victims and their families.”
The police said little, only that a 65-year-old man had been detained in connection with the investigation of the murder.The police said little, only that a 65-year-old man had been detained in connection with the investigation of the murder.
Mr. Adams, while long rumored to have been the commander of the I.R.A. in West Belfast, has always denied being an official member. He has been president of Sinn Fein since 1983.Mr. Adams, while long rumored to have been the commander of the I.R.A. in West Belfast, has always denied being an official member. He has been president of Sinn Fein since 1983.