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| Gerry Adams arrest: NI police granted extension | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Police in Northern Ireland have been given more time to question Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams in connection with the 1972 murder of Jean McConville. | |
| Detectives were given a 48-hour extension on Friday evening. | |
| Mr Adams, 65, denies allegations that he was involved in the abduction and murder of the mother-of-ten. | |
| He has been held for questioning at Antrim police station since Wednesday. | He has been held for questioning at Antrim police station since Wednesday. |
| Mr Adams, former MP for West Belfast and an elected representative for County Louth in the Republic of Ireland, voluntarily presented himself for interview. | Mr Adams, former MP for West Belfast and an elected representative for County Louth in the Republic of Ireland, voluntarily presented himself for interview. |
| Earlier on Friday, his party colleague Martin McGuinness told a news conference: "Yesterday, I said that the timing of the arrest of Gerry Adams was politically motivated. | |
| "Today's decision by the PSNI to seek an extension confirms me in my view." | "Today's decision by the PSNI to seek an extension confirms me in my view." |
| Mr McGuinness said the detention of Mr Adams was "a very, very serious situation". | Mr McGuinness said the detention of Mr Adams was "a very, very serious situation". |
| He said Sinn Féin supported the progressive elements within the PSNI. | He said Sinn Féin supported the progressive elements within the PSNI. |
| However, he added: "There is a cabal within the PSNI who have a different agenda, a negative and destructive agenda to both the peace process and to Sinn Féin." | However, he added: "There is a cabal within the PSNI who have a different agenda, a negative and destructive agenda to both the peace process and to Sinn Féin." |
| He said Sinn Féin had been told this by "very senior members of the PSNI" who had coined the phrase the 'dark side'. | He said Sinn Féin had been told this by "very senior members of the PSNI" who had coined the phrase the 'dark side'. |
| "Am I angry? Yes I am, but it's a very controlled anger," he said. | "Am I angry? Yes I am, but it's a very controlled anger," he said. |
| In regards to Sinn Féin's support for policing in Northern Ireland, he said that would continue if the situation with Mr Adams is resolved in a satisfactory manner. | In regards to Sinn Féin's support for policing in Northern Ireland, he said that would continue if the situation with Mr Adams is resolved in a satisfactory manner. |
| "If it doesn't, we will have to review that situation." | "If it doesn't, we will have to review that situation." |
| When pressed if this meant Sinn Féin would withdraw support for the police if Mr Adams was charged he said: "We're not taking any decision at this time, about anything." | When pressed if this meant Sinn Féin would withdraw support for the police if Mr Adams was charged he said: "We're not taking any decision at this time, about anything." |
| Mr McGuinness added: "I believe Gerry Adams will be totally and absolutely exonerated." | Mr McGuinness added: "I believe Gerry Adams will be totally and absolutely exonerated." |
| Northern Ireland Justice Minister David Ford of the Alliance Party said: "If there are dark forces within policing, I can see no sign of dark forces." | Northern Ireland Justice Minister David Ford of the Alliance Party said: "If there are dark forces within policing, I can see no sign of dark forces." |
| Mr Ford, who was first appointed minister when policing and justice powers were devolved to Stormont in 2010, said: "I see a police force with very high levels of confidence, higher than the Garda Síochána (Irish police) or many forces in Great Britain. | Mr Ford, who was first appointed minister when policing and justice powers were devolved to Stormont in 2010, said: "I see a police force with very high levels of confidence, higher than the Garda Síochána (Irish police) or many forces in Great Britain. |
| "I see a police force carrying out its duties properly and appropriately, following up evidential opportunities where they present themselves and operating in conjunction with the community across a range of issues." | "I see a police force carrying out its duties properly and appropriately, following up evidential opportunities where they present themselves and operating in conjunction with the community across a range of issues." |
| Ulster Unionist Party leader Mike Nesbitt said: "It is one thing to scrutinise the police - it is totally unacceptable for their support for police to be conditional on getting political policing in relation to republicans, which Martin McGuinness seems to be suggesting." | Ulster Unionist Party leader Mike Nesbitt said: "It is one thing to scrutinise the police - it is totally unacceptable for their support for police to be conditional on getting political policing in relation to republicans, which Martin McGuinness seems to be suggesting." |
| Dolores Kelly of the nationalist SDLP said: "For Sinn Féin to threaten to withdraw support from the PSNI because an investigation is not going the way they want it completely unacceptable." | Dolores Kelly of the nationalist SDLP said: "For Sinn Féin to threaten to withdraw support from the PSNI because an investigation is not going the way they want it completely unacceptable." |
| On Thursday, Northern Ireland First Minister and DUP leader Peter Robinson said: "I would suggest to you that it would be political policing if the PSNI had not questioned those that were deemed to have been involved in any way." | On Thursday, Northern Ireland First Minister and DUP leader Peter Robinson said: "I would suggest to you that it would be political policing if the PSNI had not questioned those that were deemed to have been involved in any way." |
| Mrs McConville, a 37-year-old widow and mother of 10, was abducted and shot by the IRA. Her body was recovered from a beach in County Louth in 2003. | Mrs McConville, a 37-year-old widow and mother of 10, was abducted and shot by the IRA. Her body was recovered from a beach in County Louth in 2003. |
| She is one of Northern Ireland's Disappeared, those who were abducted, murdered and secretly buried by republicans during the Troubles. | She is one of Northern Ireland's Disappeared, those who were abducted, murdered and secretly buried by republicans during the Troubles. |
| She was kidnapped in front of her children after being wrongly accused of being an informer - a claim that was dismissed after an official investigation by the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman. | She was kidnapped in front of her children after being wrongly accused of being an informer - a claim that was dismissed after an official investigation by the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman. |
| Secretly buried | Secretly buried |
| The widow was held at one or more houses before being shot and buried in secret. | The widow was held at one or more houses before being shot and buried in secret. |
| The IRA admitted in 1999 that it murdered and buried at secret locations nine of the Disappeared. | The IRA admitted in 1999 that it murdered and buried at secret locations nine of the Disappeared. |
| Sixteen people are listed as "disappeared" by the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains, which was established in 1999 by a treaty between the British and Irish governments. | Sixteen people are listed as "disappeared" by the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains, which was established in 1999 by a treaty between the British and Irish governments. |
| Despite extensive searches, the remains of seven of them have not been found. | Despite extensive searches, the remains of seven of them have not been found. |
| Last month, Ivor Bell, 77, a leader in the Provisional IRA in the 1970s, was charged with aiding and abetting the murder. | Last month, Ivor Bell, 77, a leader in the Provisional IRA in the 1970s, was charged with aiding and abetting the murder. |
| There have also been a number of other arrests over the murder recently. | There have also been a number of other arrests over the murder recently. |