A SENIOR FIGURE in Sinn Féin has said that Gerry Adams is “doing fine” in police custody.

Gerry Kelly visited his party’s president this afternoon at Antrim police station and said he “looks well”.

Speaking to reporters outside the station, he added:

“He is very thankful for the solidarity shown by people. He is being treated well by the custody staff. He looks well. Like myself and other members of Sinn Féin, he believes the timing of this was political.

He’s worried about the damage it may be doing to the image of policing as well, and that it has been mishandled in that type of fashion.

Kelly was met with cheers from Sinn Féin supporters, as well as taunts from those who oppose the party.

Kelly cited concerns about the ‘open source material’ being used to question Adams about his alleged involvement in the IRA and the abduction and murder of Jean McConville in 1972.

“I also spent considerable time with his solicitor and what I’m being told is that he’s being asked questions about open source material. In other words, they may be producing photographs that are 40 years old and in the public arena.

“They have actually been referring to his books which is now out 20 years and newspaper articles which are decades old.

“They are also asking him, of course, about the Boston Tapes, as well. I don’t know and we haven’t been told what will happen later on.

Obviously, we’ll find out after tea-time what is happening there.

The PSNI has three options when the 8pm deadline comes around tonight. Detectives can release him without charge; release him and send a file forward to the prosecutors’ office which will decide on future charges; or bring charges against him.

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