Death threat made against Gerry Adams

Gerry Adams

Local TD Gerry Adams has said he has been warned of another death threat.

The Sinn Féin president claimed at the the weekdn that he was told by officers from the PSNI  that a threat had been made against him and other senior Sinn Féin figures by someone purporting to speak for the outlawed loyalist paramilitary group the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF).

Mr Adams used his Twitter account to break the news.

On Saturday night he tweeted: “Just been told by PSNI of death threat against me & SF leadership by someone claiming 2 speak 4 UFF.”

Speaking on Sunday morning Deputy Adams said: “The PSNI contacted me last night to make me aware of a death threat against me and the Sinn Féin leadership.

“This is a worrying development but it will not deter me or Sinn Féin from moving forward with our campaign for a new, independent Ireland of equals.”

Last week the 65-year-old was forced to apologise for using offensive language to describe some unionists during a public meeting in Northern Ireland.

He used the term “bastards” while answering a question at a gathering in Co Fermanagh but insisted it was aimed at bigots.

In May, he was told there was a “credible” threat against his life after his release from police custody where he had been questioned about the murder of Belfast mother Jean McConville in 1972 and other alleged links to the IRA.

He blamed opponents of the peace process for the threat which was passed to members of his family while he was detained at Antrim police station for four days.

58-year-old man arrested in connection with death of Jean McConville

Jean McConville with some of her 10 children prior to her abduction

Detectives in the North have arrested a 58 year-old man in connection with the murder and abduction of Jean McConville in 1972.

The man was arrested in west Belfast this morning and brought to the Serious Crime Suite in Antrim Police Station.

This is the latest in a series of arrests in connection with Mrs McConville’s death this year.

In December 1972, Mrs McConville, a mother of 10, was abducted from her home in the Divis flats in west Belfast by a gang of up to 12 men and women.

Her family had later speculated the IRA wrongly assumed she was an informer. Mrs McConville had also converted from Protestant to Catholic to marry her husband Arthur McConville, a Catholic former British Army soldier who died of cancer in early 1972.

In the years that followed the signing of the Belfast Agreement, the Republican movement insisted Mrs McConville was an informer.

Former IRA member Brendan Hughes alleged she had only been killed after being warned to stop supplying information. However, a Police Ombudsman investigation in 2006 found no evidence to support that contention.

It also concluded the murder had not been investigated until 1995, when a minor probe was undertaken by the RUC.

After years of searching, Mrs McConville’s body was found in 2003 when heavy rain unearthed the remains at Shelling Hill Beach on the Cooley peninsula in Co Louth, 50 miles from her home.

73-year-old released without charge following McConville questioning

Jean McConville with some of her 10 children prior to her abduction

A 73-year-old man who was arrested yesterday by detectives investigating the abduction and murder of Jean McConville has been released without charge.

The man was detained by detectives from the Serious Crime Branch of the PSNI in Dunmurray yesterday morning.

He was taken to the Serious Crime Suite at Antrim police station for questioning and later released unconditionally, PSNI detective inspector Neil McGuiness said.

Several people have been detained and questioned this year in connection with the 1972 murder, the most high profile being Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams. Mr Adams (65) was released in May without charge after four days in police custody.

Yesterday’s arrest came as Belfast man Ivor Bell (77), who has been charged with paramilitary membership and aiding and abetting the murder, made his latest appearance in court in relation to the case.

In December 1972, Mrs McConville was dragged, screaming, away from her children in the Divis flats in west Belfast by a gang of up to 12 men and women.

Her family had later speculated the IRA wrongly assumed she was an informer. Mrs McConville had also converted from Protestant to Catholic to marry her husband Arthur McConville, a Catholic former British Army soldier who died of cancer in early 1972.

There has also been a suggestion, although uncorroborated, that she tended to a wounded British soldier outside her door in the summer, just months before her murder.

In the years that followed the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, the Republican movement insisted Mrs McConville was an informer.

Former IRA member Brendan Hughes alleged she had only been killed after being warned to stop supplying information. However, a Police Ombudsman investigation in 2006 found no evidence to support that contention.

It also concluded the murder had not been investigated until 1995, when a minor probe was undertaken by the RUC.

After years of searching, Mrs McConville’s body was found in 2003 when heavy rain unearthed the remains at Shellinghill Beach on the Cooley peninsula, 50 miles from her home.

Man arrested over Jean McConville murder

Jean McConville with some of her 10 children prior to her abduction

A man has been arrested in connection with the abduction and murder of Jean McConville in 1972.

The 73-year-old from Dunmurray was detained by detectives from the Serious Crime Branch of the PSNI this morning.

“He has been taken to the Serious Crime Suite at Antrim police station for questioning,” PSNI detective inspector Neil McGuiness said.

Several people have been detained and questioned this year in connection with the murder – the most high profile being Sinn Féin president and local TD Gerry Adams. Mr Adams (65) was released in May without charge after four days in police custody.

Mrs McConville was dragged, screaming, away from her children in the Divis flats in west Belfast by a gang of up to 12 men and women after being wrongly accused of informing to the security forces.

The 37-year-old widow was interrogated, shot in the back of the head and then secretly buried – becoming one of the ‘Disappeared’ victims of the Troubles. Her body was not found until 2003 on a beach in Shelling Hill in north Louth, 50 miles from her home.

Adams insists he had no part in McConville murder

Gerry Adams

Sinn Féin leader and local TD Gerry Adams has insisted he was not involved in the murder of Jean McConville, following his release from police custody at the weekend.

A file is to be sent to the Public Prosecution Service.

Loyalist protesters attempted to block his exit from Antrim Police Station, but Mr Adams left by a back gate.

The Sinn Féin President and Louth TD was questioned for four days by police in Co Antrim investigating the IRA abduction and murder of Ms McConville in 1972.

Speaking at a press conference following his release, Mr Adams said he was innocent of any involvement in the murder of Mrs McConville.

Mr Adams said he made himself available to talk to police following a “sustained, malicious, untruthful and sinister campaign” against him alleging his involvement in Ms McConville’s death.

While he said he was “concerned about the timing” of the arrest, he insisted that he fully supported the PSNI.

Mr Adams said he was “innocent of any involvement in any conspiracy to abduct, kill or bury Mrs McConville.

He added: “When the PSNI contacted my solicitor on Monday afternoon I was concerned about the timing, given that Sinn Fein is involved in a very important European election and local government elections across the island of Ireland.”

In a statement Northern Ireland Director of Public Prosecutions Barra McGroy said he will not take a decision on the files in relation to Gerry Adams, but this decision will be passed to his deputy.

This development was expected in light of the fact that Mr McRory has acted as solicitor to Mr Adams in the past.

Downing Street confirmed that David Cameron and Taoiseach Enda Kenny had spoken to discuss the situation surrounding Mr Adams’ arrest, but would not give any further details of the call.

Meanwhile, Michael McConville, a son of Jean McConville called for an independent investigation by a team from outside Northern Ireland so no political pressure is applied.

Mr McConville described as an 11-year-old boy watching his mother be dragged in fear from her home in Divis flats in west Belfast by neighbours whom he recognised.

But he said he was too afraid to give their names in case he or his family are shot.

He said tonight: “We would like to see all the investigations taken out of Northern Ireland, we would like an independent body to do this so there is no political pressure on the police.”

Mr McConville also vowed that his family’s fight for justice would go on and said recent days had been difficult and stressful.

“The McConville family is going to stay to the bitter end of this till we get justice for our mother.

Earlier, Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister Martin McGuiness reiterated his belief that the arrest of Mr Adams was politically motivated.

However, Northern Ireland’s Justice Minister and Alliance Party leader David Ford rejected Mr McGuinness’ claims of political policing.

DUP leader and Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson earlier accused Sinn Féin of attempting “bullyboy tactics” over the PSNI in relation to the detention of Mr Adams.

Mrs McConville was dragged away from her children in the Divis flats in west Belfast by a gang of up to 12 men and women after being accused of informing to the security forces.

She was interrogated, shot in the back of the head and then secretly buried – becoming one of the “Disappeared” victims of the Troubles.

Her body was found on a beach at Shelling Hill in north Louth years later, in 2003, 80km from her home.

Adams remains in police custody

Gerry Adams

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has spent a third night in police custody.

The 65-year-old Co Louth TD has been in custody since he attended Antrim Police Station by prior appointment on Wednesday evening.

Mr Adams is being questioned by officers investigating the abduction and murder of Jean McConville.

Mrs McConville was dragged from her children in the Divis flats in west Belfast by a gang of up to 12 men and women in 1972.

She was interrogated, shot in the back of the head and then secretly buried. She became one of the “Disappeared” victims of the Troubles.

Her body was not found until 2003, on a beach in north Louth, 80km from her home.

Following an application before a judge last night, the PSNI was granted an additional 48 hours to question Mr Adams, who denies any involvement in the killing of the mother-of-ten.

Mr Adams’s party colleague and Stormont Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has claimed a “cabal” within the PSNI was behind the arrest, with the intent of damaging the peace process and inflicting political scars on Sinn Féin in the month of an election.

Mr McGuinness indicated that Sinn Féin would review its support for policing in Northern Ireland if Mr Adams is charged by detectives investigating the murder of Mrs McConville.

The deputy first minister said he and colleagues would not be making a “knee-jerk” decision, but suggested they would “reflect” on their endorsement of the PSNI if such a situation came to pass.

The British Prime Minister has urged the leaders of Northern Ireland’s power-sharing government to co-operate after the arrest prompted sharp divisions between them.

David Cameron spoke to DUP First Minister Peter Robinson and Mr McGuinness, amid heightened republican anger at the timing of the Mr Adams’s detention.

Mr McGuinness has acknowledged that Mrs McConville was the victim of a terrible wrong done by the IRA, but said Wednesday’s action was a deliberate attempt to influence the outcome of European elections due in three weeks’ time.

DUP leader Mr Robinson said it would have been political policing if the PSNI had decided not to investigate Mr Adams because of the pending poll.

Dundalk man still being held in the North for question over alleged dissident republican activity

A Dundalk man who was previously accused of building the Omagh bomb was last night still being questioned by police in the North who are investigating dissident republican activity.

Patrick Joseph ‘Mooch’ Blair, who was once named in the House of Commons as having “helped to construct the Omagh bomb, was arrested in Newry on Monday.

Mr Blair has always denied any involvement with the 1998 atrocity, which killed 29 people.

The PSNI told the Belfast Telegraph last night that the 58-year-old is being questioned by detectives investigating dissident republican terrorist activity.

He is being held in Antrim police station.

Blair’s arrest came four days after senior republican, Seamus Daly, from Culloville in Co Monaghan, was charged with murdering 29 people in the Omagh bombing.

In 2002 Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson used Parliamentary privilege to name Blair in connection with the attack.

He said Blair was “a man who is a member of the Provisional IRA and who helped to construct the Omagh bomb”.

Blair was also named as a suspect by one-time MI5 informer Kevin Fulton.

In 1975 Blair was sentenced to 15 years in prison for attempted murder. He was released in 1982 and moved to Dundalk.

Blair strongly denies any involvement in the Omagh bomb attack.

In November 2011 he told the Smithwick Tribunal that Fulton was “unreliable” and “a fantasist”, and offered to take a lie detector test to prove his case.

“I had no part in any shape or form in the Omagh bombing,” Blair told the tribunal. “Kevin Fulton is a liar.”

Source: Belfast Telegraph

Daly arrested for questioning over Omagh bombing

Seamus Daly

A convicted Real IRA terrorist who lives just outside Dundalk has been revealed as the man arrested by police earlier this week in relation to the Omagh bomb atrocity, which claimed 29 lives, including a woman pregnant with twins.

Seamus Daly was detained by PSNI officers near the south Armagh border and taken to Antrim police station for questioning yesterday.

Daly is one of four men found responsible for the Omagh bombing in civil proceedings brought by relatives of some of the victims of the attack in August 1998. He has been living on this side of the Border but has made a number of recent visits to Northern Ireland.

Security sources said there had been a recent development in the bomb investigation and investigating officers were anxious to talk to Daly.

Last December, Daly (43), who has an address at Cullaville, Co Monaghan, and Dundalk builder and publican Colm Murphy lost their appeals against an earlier decision making them liable for the Omagh bombing.