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| Gerry Adams freed in Jean McConville murder inquiry | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has been released from custody over a 1972 murder and a file will be sent to the Public Prosecution Service, police have confirmed. | |
| Mr Adams had been questioned at Antrim PSNI Station since Wednesday, after he was arrested in connection with the murder of Jean McConville. | |
| The 37-year-old widow and mother of 10 was abducted from her home in west Belfast, shot and secretly buried by the IRA. | The 37-year-old widow and mother of 10 was abducted from her home in west Belfast, shot and secretly buried by the IRA. |
| Her body was found a beach in County Louth in 2003. | Her body was found a beach in County Louth in 2003. |
| Mr Adams has always denied involvement in the killing. | Mr Adams has always denied involvement in the killing. |
| Police had until 20:00 BST on Sunday to charge or release Mr Adams. | |
| Sinn Féin had condemned the arrest, claiming it was political and hinting that they may reconsider their support for the police. | Sinn Féin had condemned the arrest, claiming it was political and hinting that they may reconsider their support for the police. |
| However, unionists said no-one should be above the law and Democratic Unionist leader and Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson accused Sinn Féin of trying to "blackmail" the police. | |
| Lawyers to decide | |
| The decision to release Mr Adams would mean that prosecution lawyers will decide if charges will be brought. | The decision to release Mr Adams would mean 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. |
| 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 in front of her children after being wrongly accused of being an informer to the British Army. | |
| 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. |