SINN Fein leader Gerry Adams last night spent his second night in police custody as cops continue to quiz him over the abduction and murder of tragic mum-of-10 Jean McConville.
PSNI officers investigating the horrific 1972 murder of Ms McConville have until 8pm tonight to either charge Mr Adams in relation to the killing or release him.
Mrs McConville, wrongly accused by the IRA of being a British army informer, was dragged screaming from her home in Belfast in front of her terrified kids and driven across the border by IRA bomber Dolours Price, who died earlier this year.
Her body was eventually found buried under a beach car park in Co Louth in 2003, with forensic tests showing she had been shot through the back of the head.
Mr Adams (65) has strenuously denied any involvement in her murder, amid accusations from his former republican pals that he ordered the killing.
The Louth TD was arrested at Antrim Police Station on Wednesday after voluntarily presenting himself for interview and has spent the past two nights in custody.
He can be held for up to 48 hours without charge, with officers able to apply to a judge for the detention to be extended.
However, leading figures in Sinn Fein say the timing of Mr Adams’ arrest is politically motivated — as the party prepares for local and European elections this month.
The North’s Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness claimed the arrest was an example of the “dark side” of policing.
“I view his arrest as a deliberate attempt to influence the outcome of the elections that are due to take place in three weeks’ time, north and south on this island,” he added.
“That raises very serious questions around why that is the case and what is the agenda.”
Sinn Fein’s deputy president Mary Lou McDonald also said Mr Adams’ arrest was “politically motivated”, but this has been rubbished by rival politicians.
Interference
Taoiseach Enda Kenny said parties in the south have absolutely no connection with the arrest and questioning of Mr Adams.
“This is still a live murder case, and all I can say is that I hope that Deputy Adams answers in the best way he can,” Mr Kenny said.
British Prime Minister David Cameron also insisted there had been no political interference in the arrest.
PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott declined to be drawn into detailed comment at a meeting of the Northern Ireland Policing Board, but said the probe would be “effective, objective and methodical”.
Mr Adams has rejected allegations by former republican colleagues that he had a role in ordering the killing.
Progress
No one has ever been charged with the murder of the 37-year-old widow, but after years without progress in the criminal investigation there have been a series of arrests in recent weeks.
Veteran republican Ivor Bell (77), from west Belfast, was charged in March with aiding and abetting the murder, while five other people have been detained and questioned.
It follows a decision by a US court compelling a university to hand over recorded interviews with republicans about the murder to the PSNI.
Boston College had interviewed several former paramilitaries about the Troubles — on the understanding that transcripts would not be published until after their deaths.
