Gerry Adams

Good post niggly.

I heard on the news this afternoon that the son called Michael, previously too scared to name names has now said that Gerry Adams warned him 10 years ago, not to name anyone.

I understand that the Police cannot accept the evidence of this murdered lady's daughter as she didn't actually see the 'brave' men and women(!) who took her mother away, and only has the evidence of her siblings who were actually there. Her brother of course, the recipient of additional terror, is still too frightened to give any evidence - probably with good reason. I too wonder how this enquiry will 'pan out. I still think, in the interests of NI peace, it will wither and be quietly filed away. I know that this fragile peace is vitally important, but at the expense of bringing these 'monsters' (WHOEVER they are) to justice does leave a nasty taste and the knowledge that some people ARE above the law - we shall see, perhaps I'm wrong, I hope so!!

Thanks Mishap. Wonder if that means they think they have got enough to prosecute him. And would it be for planning, or physically carrying out the crime.

Sorry, posted too soon. Thanks Pogs for setting out the background to the investigation, the Boston tapes. This makes it harder for me to accept accusations that the timing of the investigation is political. Other than that of course all such investigations will be tainted by politics. I wonder whether any charges will follow. The police must have been given support from the highest level in their service, to have sent a file to the PPS.

Thank Nigglynellie, for pulling together the CS,MC and GA threads that have sometimes made unpleasant reading. I agree with you that in all humanity, it's owed to the deceased mother and those who loved her to attempt to bring to justice the individuals who instigated and carried out such a dreadful, brutal crime.

it may jeopardise the peace process, but not to investigate would also jeopardise any hope of peace in the longer term.

"Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has been released from custody after being held over the 1972 murder of Jean McConville.

A file will be sent to the Public Prosecution Service, the BBC has learned."

Just got this offline - 16 minutes ago.

Of all the terrible things that happened during the troubles, I think the torture (Yes she was horribly) and murder of this widowed lady, mother of 10 fatherless children was perhaps the worse. The terrorising of one of her sons, a cap pistol let off next to his head among other horrors, was cruelty beyond belief. I understand that this investigation could jeopardise the peace process, and I sincerely hope this doesn't happen, but how can we, as a nation, be so on our high horses over CS (rightly so) and MC(equally rightly so) and yet be prepared to let this appalling murder drift into the long grass and be quietly forgotten - end justifying the means?. Surely in all humanity we owe to that lady, long dead and her children to bring to justice the person/people who instigated this dreadful crime perpetrated on a wholly innocent woman and her family.

"Complacent Gransnetters"? I too take exception to that. Is it complacent not to stand up for sex offenders or think the likes Jeremy Clarkson a harmless prat?

;8 o'clock tonight should be interesting.

Post garbled by Fire

mishap the post was going rapidly down ActiveX. Whilst he Peaches Geldof one as thriving.

I think it would have been missed completely if I had not commented. And I wanted to talk about it! [spoilt brat emotion]

Oh right! I did n't know that. (Why do I always miss half of an item on Today

Jings

I could be wrong in what I am about to say about the 'timing' and 'which crime' they are investigating, so I put my hands up if somebody says I am incorrect.

I thought a lot of this was to do with interviews that were on record in America but could not be released until so many years had passed. The interviews were directly putting him in the frame.

"But don't let that disturb the complacency of Gransnetters." What a strange statement jingle. - before anyone has barely had a chance to even read let alone respond to your post.

As someone who nearly got bombed by the IRA whilst living in Birmingham (a shoe shop blew up moments after I walked out of it) I am not likely to be complacent! - and have no reason to think anyone else might be either. We can all remember what happened and dread its return.

Gotta start somewhere. Blatant hypocracy is a good place.

Why have they chosen this particular crime to investigate now? There were so many atrocities committed on both sides. I wonder if it really is political re the elections.

Very worrying.

The republicans want it both ways, they demand investigations of the "crimes" of The British Army but not investigations of what their leaders got up to. It is a a worrying situation.

It is a monumental setback - but what is the alternative?

I think so too anno

If he is charged the Republican side will go up in flames; if he isn't charged, the Unionist side will go up in flames. Either way, it's a monumental setback.

I remembering watching the recent programme about this lady being taken from her home...they interviewed the young children at the time she went missing..it was on earlier in the year I think.

Gransnet Complacency in the face of allegations that a man who now holds significant power gave the order for a mother of 10 to be dragged out of her home, murdered and "disappeared". I don't see any complacency in the response so far.

Gerry Adams had to be questioned about allegations he ordered the death of Jean McConville. There are people holding power (on both sides of the divide) who were involved in brutality, murder, crime etc in the name of freedom.

Would a process of truth and reconciliation enable folks to finally be honest about their part in the troubles. That would help me feel that the peace process was being built on firm foundations and was more likely to influence the next generation from continuing to perpetuate the brutality that has existed in Northern Ireland for much of our adult lives (and before of course)

This is getting horrible - Newsnight. Something is very wrong here...

He has spent his entire adult life denying he was in the IRA, what tosh! He has blood on his hands. Martin Mcguinness does too, but at least admits to his past. As someone who lives in Northern Ireland I know what I'm talking about.

No complacency, jings. We all remember the troubles and friends and relatives were lost on both sides of the Irish Sea.

But if there is evidence that Gerry Adams was personally involved in this murder, than it does nothing for the rule of law in Ireland if it is swept under the carpet for the sake of a peace which would then be founded on a sand. That does not apply just to one side of the equation. If lives are lost in the heat of a fight, that is "war" (God help us) but a cold-blooded execution is murder, whoever was responsible.