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Jean McConville murder: son claims Gerry Adams warned of 'backlash' if he disclosed killers' names to police Jean McConville murder: Son claims Gerry Adams warned of 'backlash' if he disclosed killers' names to police
(35 minutes later)
A son of IRA murder victim Jean McConville has said Gerry Adams told him there could be a “backlash” if he released the names of those he believed were responsible. A son of IRA murder victim Jean McConville was told by Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams that he could face a “backlash” if he disclosed the names of his mother’s killers, he claimed on Monday.
Michael McConville has said his family's fight for justice will go on after the Sinn Fein president was freed, but has maintained he could be shot if he disclosed the identities of suspects to police. Mr McConville maintained that he believes he would be shot if he identified suspects to the police.
Mr Adams, 65, was released from Antrim police station, pending a report being sent to prosecutors, after four days of questioning about the notorious 1972 killing of the mother-of-10 and other alleged links with the IRA. His comments come after Mr Adams was released from Atrim police station on Sunday, where he was questioned by police for four days over Mrs McConville’s murder in 1972, and other alleged links with the IRA.
Upon his release, Mr Adams once again vehemently rejected allegations made by former republican colleagues that he ordered the abduction and killing under investigation.
The Public Prosecution Services (PPS) will now decide whether to charge him with any offence after it has reviewed evidence presented by the police.
Mr McConville told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: “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'.Mr McConville told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: “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.” Jean McConville, pictured with three of her 10 children.
Mr Adams has vehemently rejected allegations made by former republican colleagues that he ordered the abduction and killing under investigation - denials he repeated again last night. He also claims that the “backlash” remark was made around the time a report being drawn up by Northern Ireland's then police ombudsman, Nuala O'Loan, into claims that his mother was an informer was close to being finalised.
The decision whether to charge him with any offence will be made by the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) at a later date after reviewing evidence presented by police.
Mr McConville alleged the "blacklash" remark  was made around the time a report being drawn up by Northern Ireland's then police ombudsman, Nuala O'Loan, into claims that his mother was an informer was close to being finalised.
The Sinn Fein president had brokered a series of meetings between him and members of the IRA.The Sinn Fein president had brokered a series of meetings between him and members of the IRA.
Mr McConville said he used to tell Mr Adams what had happened in the meetings and warned him that he would release the names of those involved if Ms O'Loan's report was disputed. At the meetings, Mr McConville would warn Mr Adams that he would release the names of those involved in his mother’s death if Ms O'Loan's report was disputed.
At that point he said the backlash was mentioned. It was at that point Mr Adams mentioned the backlash, Mr McConville said.
Mr McConville said that “could” have meant a backlash against the peace process but said he took it to mean the “backlash from republican people”. He added Mr Adams may have meant a backlash against the peace process, but he interpreted it to mean the ”backlash from republican people“.
Mr Adams will refocus on election campaigning today as the political fall-out from his release from police custody continues to reverberate around Stormont and beyond. Following his release, Mr Adams will refocus on election campaigning today ahead of the European Union elections on 22 May.
The republican party is holding a European election rally in Belfast tonight, with a similar event planned in Dublin tomorrow, as Mr Adams resumes the canvassing activities he claims his detention was designed to thwart.
The rapturous welcome Mr Adams received in a west Belfast hotel on his first public appearance was in marked contrast to the angry scenes outside the police station as loyalists protested at the decision to free him.The rapturous welcome Mr Adams received in a west Belfast hotel on his first public appearance was in marked contrast to the angry scenes outside the police station as loyalists protested at the decision to free him.
There was disorder in the loyalist Sandy Row area of Belfast, with petrol bombs and stones thrown, though no one was injured.There was disorder in the loyalist Sandy Row area of Belfast, with petrol bombs and stones thrown, though no one was injured.
The former MP for west Belfast and now representative for Co Louth in the Irish Dail criticised the police's handling of his arrest but moved to dispel any suggestion that Sinn Fein's commitment to policing had wavered in the wake of the affair. Additional reporting PA
His arrest on Wednesday triggered a bitter political row at Stormont, with Sinn Fein accusing an “anti-peace process rump” within the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) of orchestrating the detention with the aim of damaging the party ahead of the European and local government elections.
This was angrily rejected by political rivals, whose fury intensified when senior Sinn Fein figures indicated that their support for the police - a critical plank in the peace process - would be “reviewed” if Mr Adams was charged.
Democratic Unionist Stormont First Minister Peter Robinson denounced those remarks as “bully boy” tactics.
Downing Street confirmed that David Cameron and Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny spoke yesterday to discuss the situation surrounding Mr Adams' arrest.
Mr Adams questioned the timing of his detention and said police had unnecessarily used “coercive” legislation to detain and quiz him.
PA