SF Leader Not To Be Prosecuted Over Murder Of Jean McConville

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams will not face prosecution charges over the IRA abduction and murder of Jean McConville in 1972.

The Northern Ireland Public Prosecution Service (PPS) confirmed that, following careful consideration of the evidence, seven individuals who were reported to the PPS by the PSNI will not be prosecuted.

Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Pamela Atchison, said: "We have given careful consideration to the evidence currently available in respect of each of the three men and four women reported and have concluded that it is insufficient to provide a reasonable prospect of obtaining a conviction against any of them for a criminal offence."

Mr Adams was arrested and questioned for four days about the murder last year.

Ms Atchison concluded: "We have had a series of meetings with members of the family, most recently this morning, about all of our prosecutorial decisions and we will continue to engage with them as we progress the prosecution of Ivor Bell. We thank them for the positive way that they have engaged with us at each stage of the process."

(CD/MH)