Pensioner, 73, arrested by police investigating 1972 murder of Jean McConville

Belfast mother-of-10 Mrs McConville was abducted, murdered and secretly buried in 1972

James Rush
Thursday 30 October 2014 13:58 GMT
Jean McConville was kidnapped and killed in 1972
Jean McConville was kidnapped and killed in 1972

Police investigating the 1972 kidnap and murder of Jean McConville have arrested a pensioner in greater Belfast.

The 73-year-old man has been taken to the Police Service of Northern Ireland's serious crime suite in Antrim for questioning following his arrest in Dunmurry.

Belfast mother-of-10 Mrs McConville was abducted, murdered and secretly buried, in one of the most notorious crimes of the Northern Ireland Troubles.

The case lay effectively dormant for decades until a series of arrests were made this year, including Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams who was detained for four days and questioned about the notorious murder.

Mr Adams, who vehemently denies involvement, was released without charge, pending a report being sent to prosecutors for assessment.

Mrs McConville was abducted from 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 widow was interrogated before being shot in the back of the head and secretly buried.

Her body was found on a beach in 2003 in Co Louth, 50 miles from her home.

Additional reporting by Press Association

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