SINN FÉIN LEADER Gerry Adams has released a statement reacting to this morning’s court appearance relating to the murder of Jean McConville over 40 years ago.

He says that what happened to the mother of ten was “wrong” and a “grievous injustice to her family”.

Adams goes on to state that:

It is Sinn Féin’s view that legacy issues and dealing with the past, including past conflict events, are best addressed through an independent, international, truth recovery process.

Veteran republican Ivor Bell appeared before magistrates in Belfast this morning charged with aiding and abetting in the murder of the 37-year-old in December 1972.

His solicitor denied any link to the killing. Bell was denied bail, and remanded in custody to appear again before court next month.

Adams has reiterated several times that he played no part in the abduction and killing — most recently in the wake of a documentary broadcast last year, in which a former IRA commander linked him to the case.

The Sinn Féin President said at the time:

I had no act or part to play in either the abduction, the killing or the burial of Jean McConville, or indeed any of these other individuals.

Here’s his statement today in full:

Due process prevents me from commenting on the recent charging of a man in relation to the death of Jean McConville. This is now a matter for the courts.

However, the killing of Jean McConville and the disappearing of her remains was wrong and a grievous injustice to her family.

The injustice suffered by the McConville family is one of many legacy issues relating to the conflict.

We must bear in mind in all of this that there has been a virtual amnesty for British armed forces including state and state-sponsored killings.

It is Sinn Féin’s view that legacy issues and dealing with the past, including past conflict events, are best addressed through an independent, international, truth recovery process.

In the absence of that, we have agreed to and are seeking the implementation of the Haass compromise proposals. These include the right of families to choose whether to pursue legal action or to seek maximum truth recovery.

Read: Families of ‘The Disappeared’ tell their stories as Adams repeats McConville denial

Read: Jean McConville family launch civil action against PSNI & MoD

Gerry Adams: I played no part in the abduction and killing of Jean McConville