'No evidence' against republican charged over McConville killing, court told

A hearing in Belfast’s Laganside court complex was told the evidence, which includes tape recordings from researchers at Boston College, was inadmissible.

Solicitor Peter Corrigan, representing Bell, said: “The evidence presented at the police station does not amount to a row of beans.”

Mrs McConville, a widow, was dragged from her home in the Divis flats by an IRA gang of up to 12 men and women after being accused of passing information to the British Army in Belfast -- an allegation discredited by the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman.

She was shot in the back of the head and buried 50 miles from her home. The IRA did not admit her murder until 1999 when information was passed on to police in the Republic.

She became one of the so-called Disappeared, and it was not until August 2003 that her remains were eventually found on Shelling Hill beach, Co Louth.

Nobody has ever been charged with her murder.

Objecting to a Public Prosecution Service (PPS) request for a four-to-six week adjournment, Mr Corrigan claimed the well-publicised lack of police resources for legacy cases meant his “elderly” client was not being treated fairly.

He said: “We know that the PSNI has stated that they are not resourced to look into the cases for example of Bloody Sunday and the murders by the Glenanne gang.”

Mr Corrigan added: “My client is entitled to be treated equally before the law. It is something which we intend to put forward -- why Ivor Bell is not being treated equally?”

District Judge Fiona Bagnall said the issue was not a matter for the magistrates’ court.

She said: “I am not going into other matters. That is not for this court.”

Grey-haired moustachioed Bell sat impassively in the dock wearing a green jumper and jeans as the claims were made.

Earlier, a prosecution barrister revealed there were 10 lever arch files of evidence against Bell.

She also said voice analysis experts had been instructed to examine the tapes from Boston College’s Belfast Project.

Granting the adjournment Judge Bagnall said: “Given the nature of the charge, I entirely understand why the PPS would want to have the benefit of senior counsel before proceeding. If there are 10 lever arch files, with the best will in the world, you have to give senior counsel time.

“I would not say that everybody is standing on their hands in this case. Things are being worked through.”

The judge also warned to expect further delays.

“I would not have high hopes of some great progress in six weeks’ time,” she added.

Boston College interviewed a number of former paramilitaries about the Troubles on the understanding transcripts would not be published until after their deaths - but that undertaking was rendered ineffective when a US court last year ordered that the tapes be handed over to detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

The case has been adjourned until December 11.