Sinn Fein, Gerry Adams arrested over 1972 murder

[Ammi]

Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams has been arrested by detectives investigating the murder of Belfast mother-of-10 Jean McConville.

Mr Adams, who has vehemently rejected the allegations made by former republican colleagues that he had a role in ordering the notorious IRA killing in 1972, voluntarily presented himself for interview at a police station in Antrim.

No one has ever been charged with the murder. But after years without progress in the criminal investigation there have been a series of arrests in recent weeks.

A veteran republican - 77-year-old Ivor Bell - was charged last month with aiding and abetting the murder.

In the wake of the recent developments in the case, last month Mr Adams, who has always denied membership of the IRA, said he would be available to meet with detectives if they wished to speak with him.

Mr Adams, 65, a former MP for West Belfast and now a representative for Co Louth in the Irish Dail, presented himself at Antrim police station by prior arrangement with officers.

He issued a statement minutes after the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) announced an arrest had been made.

"Last month I said that I was available to meet the PSNI about the Jean McConville case," he said.

"While I have concerns about the timing, I am voluntarily meeting with the PSNI this evening.

"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. Insofar as it is possible I have worked to bring closure to victims and their families who have contacted me. Even though they may not agree, this includes the family of Jean McConville.

"I believe that the killing of Jean McConville and the secret burial of her body was wrong and a grievous injustice to her and her family.

"Well publicised, malicious allegations have been made against me. I reject these.

"While I have never disassociated myself from the IRA and I never will, I am innocent of any part in the abduction, killing or burial of Mrs McConville."

A PSNI spokesman said: "Detectives from the serious crime branch investigating the abduction and murder of Jean McConville in 1972 have arrested a 65-year-old man in Antrim. The suspect is currently being interviewed by detectives at the serious crime suite in Antrim police station."

Mrs McConville, a widow, was dragged away from her children in her home in the Divis flats, west Belfast, by an IRA gang of up to 12 men and women after being accused of passing information to the British Army in the city.

An investigation later carried out by the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman rejected the claims that she was an informer.

She was shot in the back of the head and buried 50 miles from her home. The IRA did not admit her murder until 1999 when information was passed to police in the Irish Republic.

She became one of the so-called Disappeared, and it was not until August 2003 that her remains were found on Shelling Hill beach, Co Louth



http://news.uk.msn.com/mcconville-murder-probe-adams-held

[Shaun]

42 years. Not bad for our police force.

[Kizzy]

Did anyone study 'A difficult Birth' for GCSE?

[Kazanne]

Did anyone study 'A difficult Birth' for GCSE?

No,what was that Kizzy,sounds interesting?

[Tregard]

Woah, seemingly out of nowhere.

I wonder how much of an effect having their president arrested will have on Sinn Féin's voting power in the upcoming elections.

[Kizzy]

No,what was that Kizzy,sounds interesting?

It's about the Anglo/ Irish peace process, the good friday agreement.

[smeagol]

it was always well known how many people has killed and all the other things he done he has got away with it due to politics behind closed doors. i find it strange they would go for him again now. though maybe his power is not as it once was.

makes you realize just how corrupt our country is though. we bend over backwards to terrorists if it means we get something in return. to suddenly turn on them again reaks of more political backstabbing and dodgy dealings

[Nedusa]

I wonder if Martin McGuinness sipping tea with the Queen was really such a good idea now..??

[Cherie]

I wonder if Martin McGuinness sipping tea with the Queen was really such a good idea now..??

Not sure anything has changed, it is no secret GA and MMcG were members of the RAH.

[Niamh.]

it was always well known how many people has killed and all the other things he done he has got away with it due to politics behind closed doors. i find it strange they would go for him again now. though maybe his power is not as it once was.

makes you realize just how corrupt our country is though. we bend over backwards to terrorists if it means we get something in return. to suddenly turn on them again reaks of more political backstabbing and dodgy dealings

Sinn fein have been steadily gaining popularity in the Polls over here (due to the fact that the other two main parties are a shower of con men who ruined the country mostly) so there has been claims made that this arrest was tactical because we have an election coming up.....who knows? Seems a bit far fetched but nothing would surprise me tbh

[smudgie]

Maybe the "grass" has just died.
The deal was that information was not to be acted upon until after their death.
The arrest last month could have a lot to do with it as well.
Deals are made with little fish to catch big fish.


On the other hand..it could be down to the timing, politics is indeed a very dirty game.

[Kizzy]

196.19 Instructions sent by signal from the headquarters of the British Army in Northern Ireland to all Brigades on 13th October 1971,1 and reiterated on 17th December 1971,2 had set out the procedure for making arrests under Regulation 11, including an appropriate form of words to be used.3

“THE SOLDIER MAKING THE ARREST UNDER REGULATION 11 SHOULD SAY QUOTE I AM ARRESTING YOU UNDER REGULATION 11 OF THE CIVIL AUTHORITIES (SPECIAL POWERS) ACT ON THE GROUND THAT I SUSPECT (AS APPROPRIATE):

(1) YOU OF HAVING ACTED IN A MANNER PREJUDICIAL TO THE PRESERVATION OF PEACE (.)

(2) YOU OF BEING ABOUT TO ACT IN A MANNER PREJUDICIAL TO THE PRESERVATION OF PEACE (.)

(3) YOU OF BEING A MEMBER OF THE IRA, UVF, ETC (.)

(4) THAT THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR POSSESSION IN INTENDED TO BE USED FOR A PURPOSE PREJUDICIAL TO THE PRESERVATION OF PEACE. ”

1 G18B.136.5-8

2 G42C.277.8-11

3 G42C.277.10-11

196.20 However, it is highly doubtful whether these instructions were followed on Bloody Sunday or that those arrested on Bloody Sunday were told either under what power they were being arrested or on what grounds the arrest was being made. In the course of the oral evidence to this Inquiry of Warrant Officer Class II Lewis (the Company Sergeant Major of Support Company, 1 PARA), there was this exchange:1

“Q. The next heading in your statement is ‘Moving to the north side of Rossville Flats Block 1,’ and you describe how that came about. Could we move on, please, to B2111.018 and paragraph 116, where you say: ‘While in the lee of Block 1 I was not in a position to see the direct actions of soldiers as they were making arrests, although I knew that arrests were still being made. I saw nothing untoward. In Northern Ireland ... ’ should that say ‘there were proper arrest procedures and we had to conform to these ’?

A. No, sir, ‘These were proper arrest procedures and we had to conform to these ’.

Q. ‘These were proper arrest procedures ...’

A. Yes.

Q. What were the proper procedures that had to be followed when making an arrest in Northern Ireland?

A. To grasp the arrestee, sir, and take him as quickly as possible to the holding area with – using minimum force.

Q. That was all that the procedure involved?

A. Yes, sir.

Q. Were the soldiers expected to tell the person concerned that he was being arrested?

A. Not to my knowledge, sir, not to my recollection.

Q. Or to explain why he was being –

A. No, sir.

Q. – arrested or anything like that?

A. No, sir.

Q. Or under what legal power he was being arrested?

A. No, sir. ”

1 Day 373/68-70

196.21 In the light of this evidence it appears doubtful, either as a matter of common law or on the basis of the retrospective validation of the regulations relating to soldiers under the Special Powers Act, that the arrests made on Bloody Sunday were lawfully made. We consider elsewhere in this report'



'The firing by soldiers of 1 PARA on Bloody Sunday caused the deaths of 13 people and injury to a similar number, none of whom was posing a threat of causing death or serious injury. What happened on Bloody Sunday strengthened the Provisional IRA, increased nationalist resentment and hostility towards the Army and exacerbated the violent conflict of the years that followed. Bloody Sunday was a tragedy for the bereaved and the wounded, and a catastrophe for the people of Northern Ireland.

Unlawful arrests, unlawful deaths.
If we are investigating Adams let's do this too?..

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20101103103930/http://report.bloody-sunday-inquiry.org/

[Livia]

Bloody Sunday has had an enquiry. Let's have one on Warren Point. That'd be just as unhelpful right now as it is dredging Bloody Sunday up again.

[Kizzy]

Bloody Sunday has had an enquiry. Let's have one on Warren Point. That'd be just as unhelpful right now as it is dredging Bloody Sunday up again.

Dredging?.... they were killed in the same year as the woman in the OP.

Do you have any reference to Warren Point?

[Livia]

Dredging?.... they were killed in the same year as the woman in the OP.

Do you have any reference to Warren Point?

I imagine a lot of people on both sides died in Northern Ireland at that time. You're not going to reference them all, are you?

I'm not putting a link to Warren Point, look it up if you're interested. It has as much to do with the Gerry Adams arrest as your out of context cut and paste job about Bloody Sunday.

[Kizzy]

I imagine a lot of people on both sides died in Northern Ireland at that time. You're not going to reference them all, are you?

I'm not putting a link to Warren Point, look it up if you're interested. It has as much to do with the Gerry Adams arrest as your out of context cut and paste job about Bloody Sunday.

At that time or over time?

Please don't downplay this as irrelevant livia it is an extremely important and sensitive part of Irish history.
You can't just cherry pick what areas you deem to be worthy of discussion.

It has everything to do with it as I think you know livia, and if I choose to share information from a legal document to strengthen my view I will do so.
Making vague references to derail the issue is not my style.

[Livia]

At that time or over time?

Please don't downplay this as irrelevant livia it is an extremely important and sensitive part of Irish history.
You can't just cherry pick what areas you deem to be worthy of discussion.

It has everything to do with it as I think you know livia, and if I choose to share information from a legal document to strengthen my view I will do so.
Making vague references to derail the issue is not my style.

Yeah, whatever.

[Kizzy]

Yeah, whatever.

Bit childish..
If you don't like my posts livia just don't comment please.

[Livia]

Bit childish..
If you don't like my posts livia just don't comment please.

Oh? I can only comment on posts of yours that I like? You realise that I've been asking the same of you for ages? I'm happy for us to ignore each other, I've often said it. But it means you have to stop trailing round making comments after my posts too.

[Kizzy]

Oh? I can only comment on posts of yours that I like? You realise that I've been asking the same of you for ages? I'm happy for us to ignore each other, I've often said it. But it means you have to stop trailing round making comments after my posts too.

You do keep saying this, and yet in every instance it's you who initiates the dialogue every time....
Either debate the issue with me rationally or don't.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Some sage words about Bloody Sunday from this documentary



6RTJ4vHoYUs

[arista]

A File from USA
has all the data


Ref: SkyNewsHD

[Kizzy]

A File from USA
has all the data


Ref: SkyNewsHD

Linky?... you're slipping arista.

[arista]

[Gerry Adams' arrest over the murder of widowed mother of 10 Jean McConville stems from allegations made by republicans in interviews they gave to a US college.

Back in 2001, Boston College launched an oral history project.]

http://news.sky.com/story/1252952/secret-boston-tapes-led-to-gerry-adams-arrest

[Livia]

You do keep saying this, and yet in every instance it's you who initiates the dialogue every time....
Either debate the issue with me rationally or don't.

You're forgetting all the times you post in reference to my own post and I ignore you. I could give you examples... but I can't be arsed. Just leave me alone! I'll do the same to you as promised.

[Kizzy]

Stop derailing the thread with your demands, stick to the topic in discussion and I will do the same.

[arista]

Gerry Adams has been released

[Kizzy]

Good job there's already been bomb scares across the country.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Adams getting out now. Water Canon have been ordered. Big mob outside. Could be ugly.

Stay tuned

[Aduk]

I'm shocked at Martin McGuiness saying Gerry Adams arrest will effect the peace process and that it's some sort of plot between sections of the Northern Ireland Police and disident Republicans. Surely this is about justice for Jean McConville and her family, one of whom has been brave enough to come out and risk his life in an effort to get the truth out? I find it incredible how so many in Northern Ireland have taken to Adams and McGuiness and regard Sinn Fein as being a respectable party!

[Jessica.]

:umm2: That's scary, one time I was home alone and he knocked on my door and I went and spoke to him for like 15mins in my pyjamas, I ended up not voting at all though. But it makes me feel weird. :umm2:

[Livia]

I'm shocked at Martin McGuiness saying Gerry Adams arrest will effect the peace process and that it's some sort of plot between sections of the Northern Ireland Police and disident Republicans. Surely this is about justice for Jean McConville and her family, one of whom has been brave enough to come out and risk his life in an effort to get the truth out? I find it incredible how so many in Northern Ireland have taken to Adams and McGuiness and regard Sinn Fein as being a respectable party!

I've got to agree. If there were questions to answer then he was quite rightly taken in for questioning. The threats of repercussions if Adams was charged was disgusting. It proves, if proof were needed, that Sinn Fein are just one step away from the murdering terrorist scum that is the IRA. Not that I am suggesting for one minute that the Loyalist are any better when it comes to violence and threats. A terrorist is a terrorist.