Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams.
The PSNI have been granted a 48-hour extension to question Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams about the abduction and murder of Belfast widow Jean McConville in 1972.
Mr Adams (65) denies allegations he was involved killing of the mother-of-ten.
He has been held for questioning at the PSNI’s serious crime suite at Antrim police station since Wednesday night after he voluntarily presented himself for interview.
His party colleague, Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, said the granting of the extension was proof that Mr Adams’ detention was “politically motivated.”
Mr McGuinness said the detention of Mr Adams was “a very, very serious situation.”
He said Sinn Féin supported the progressive elements within the PSN but said there was a “cabal within the PSNI who have a different agenda, a negative and destructive agenda to both the peace process and to Sinn Féin.”
He said Sinn Féin had been told this by “very senior members of the PSNI” who had coined the phrase the ‘dark side’.
“Am I angry? Yes I am, but it’s a very controlled anger,” he said.
He added Sinn Fein’s support for policing here would continue if the situation was resolved satisfactorily but hinted that could change.
Antrim Police Station where Gerry Adams is being held.
“If it doesn’t, we will have to review that situation.”
The further detention of Mr Adams was granted when a senior detective applied to Belfast Crown Court to have his extension to detention extended.
The hearing was held in closed session behind a locked courtroom door.
A judge was present in the courtroom with a live via videolink to the serious crime suite in Antrim where the Sinn Fein president is being held.
Last night, a PSNI detective superintendent signed an order granting officers from the Terrorist Investigation Unit a further 24 hours to question the Louth TD.
Tags:
