Editing Gerry Adams (section)

===2014 arrest===
On 30 April 2014, Adams was arrested by detectives from the [[Police Service of Northern Ireland]] (PSNI) Serious Crime Branch, under the [[Terrorism Act 2000]], in connection with the [[murder of Jean McConville]] in 1972.<ref>{{Cite news |last=O'Connell |first=Hugh |date=2 May 2014 |title=The PSNI have been granted an extra 48 hours to question Gerry Adams |url=http://www.thejournal.ie/gerry-adams-sinn-fein-arrest-1445393-May2014/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140528005815/http://www.thejournal.ie/gerry-adams-sinn-fein-arrest-1445393-May2014/ |archive-date=28 May 2014 |access-date=27 May 2014 |work=thejournal.ie}}</ref> He had previously voluntarily arranged to be interviewed by police regarding the matter,<ref>{{Cite news |last=McDonald |first=Henry |date=30 April 2014 |title=Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams held over 1972 Jean McConville killing |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/apr/30/gerry-adams-held-jean-mconville-killing |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140501075314/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/apr/30/gerry-adams-held-jean-mconville-killing |archive-date=1 May 2014 |access-date=30 April 2014 |work=The Guardian |location=London}}</ref> and maintained he had no involvement.<ref name="BBC McConville">{{Cite news |date=30 April 2014 |title=Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams held over Jean McConville murder |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-27232731 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140430235109/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-27232731 |archive-date=30 April 2014 |access-date=30 April 2014 |work=BBC News |location=London}}</ref> Fellow Sinn Féin politician [[Alex Maskey]] stated that the timing of the arrest, "three weeks into an election", was evidence of a "political agenda [...] a negative agenda" by the PSNI.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Beaton |first=Connor |date=30 April 2014 |title=SF MLA: Adams arrest 'negative PSNI agenda' |url=http://thetarge.co.uk/article/current-affairs/0258/sinn-fein-mla-adams-arrest-negative-psni-agenda |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201007203220/http://thetarge.co.uk/article/current-affairs/0258/sinn-fein-mla-adams-arrest-negative-psni-agenda |archive-date=7 October 2020 |access-date=30 April 2014 |publisher=The Targe}}</ref> McConville's family had campaigned for the arrest of Adams for the murder.<ref>''[https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/gerry-adams-sinn-fein-leader-3480389 Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams arrested over murder of widowed mother abducted in 1972] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920222447/http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/gerry-adams-sinn-fein-leader-3480389 |date=20 September 2016 }}''</ref> McConville's son Michael said that his family did not think the arrest of Adams would ever happen, and were glad that the arrest took place. Adams was released without charge after four days in custody when a file was sent to the [[Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland|Public Prosecution Service]], which would decide if criminal charges should be brought.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-27232731 Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams held over Jean McConville murder] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024113939/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-27232731 |date=24 October 2018 }}. BBC News. 30 April 2014.</ref><ref>[http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/shadow-of-jean-mcconville-murder-still-hangs-over-gerry-adams-and-sinn-fein-30244125.html Shadow of Jean McConville murder still hangs over Gerry Adams and Sinn Fein] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505073500/http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/shadow-of-jean-mcconville-murder-still-hangs-over-gerry-adams-and-sinn-fein-30244125.html |date=5 May 2014 }} Irish Independent, 5 May 2014.</ref><ref name="Adams released">{{Cite news |date=4 May 2014 |title=Adams released without charge |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-27278039 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140504230216/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-27278039 |archive-date=4 May 2014 |access-date=4 May 2014 |publisher=BBC}}</ref>

At a press conference after his release, Adams criticised the timing of his arrest, reiterated Sinn Féin's support for the PSNI and said: "The IRA is gone. It is finished."<ref>{{Cite news |date=4 May 2014 |title=BBC News – Gerry Adams freed in Jean McConville murder inquiry |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-27278039 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727120602/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-27278039 |archive-date=27 July 2018 |access-date=22 June 2018 |work=BBC News}}</ref> Adams denied that he had any involvement in the murder or was ever a member of the IRA,<ref name="bbc.com" /><ref name="BBC McConville" /><ref name="BBC-Deny01">{{Cite web |date=6 May 2014 |title=Gerry Adams denies McConville son 'backlash threat' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-27280446 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140511043534/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-27280446 |archive-date=11 May 2014 |access-date=11 May 2014 |publisher=BBC |quote=The Sinn Fein president was questioned for four days in connection with the murder of Jean McConville and membership of the IRA.He has strongly denied all those allegations. ... He again said he was innocent of any involvement in Mrs McConville's murder.}}</ref> and said the allegations came from "enemies of the peace process".<ref name="bbc.com" /> On 29 September 2015 the Public Prosecution Service announced Adams would not face charges, due to insufficient evidence,<ref name="G2015">{{Cite news |date=29 September 2015 |title=Gerry Adams will not face charges over Jean McConville murder |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/sep/29/gerry-adams-will-not-face-trial-over-jean-mcconville |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160606111618/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/sep/29/gerry-adams-will-not-face-trial-over-jean-mcconville |archive-date=6 June 2016 |access-date=22 June 2016 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> as had been expected ever since a [[BBC]] report dated 6 May 2014 (2 days after the BBC reported his release),<ref name="BBC-Insuff01">{{Cite web |date=6 May 2014 |title=Gerry Adams denies McConville son 'backlash threat' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-27280446 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140511043534/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-27280446 |archive-date=11 May 2014 |access-date=11 May 2014 |publisher=BBC |quote=BBC News understands there was insufficient evidence to charge Mr Adams with any offence.}}</ref> which was widely repeated elsewhere.<ref name="Mirror-Insuff01">{{Cite news |last=Anthony Bond, Sam Adams |date=6 May 2014 |title="Insufficient evidence" to 'pursue prosecution of Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams' |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/gerry-adams-arrest-insufficient-evidence-3501200 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140507105217/http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/gerry-adams-arrest-insufficient-evidence-3501200 |archive-date=7 May 2014 |access-date=11 May 2014 |work=[[Daily Mirror]] |quote=No charges would be brought against Mr Adams unless significant new evidence comes to light, according to reports ... There is "insufficient evidence" to pursue a prosecution against Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams in relation to the 1972 murder of Jean McConville, according to reports. The BBC said it understood that no charges would be brought against Mr Adams unless significant new evidence comes to light.}}</ref>