77-year-old charged in connection with the murder of Jean McConville

POLICE IN NORTHERN Ireland investigating the murder of Jean McConville have charged a 77-year-old man with aiding and abetting murder.

The man, who was arrested earlier this week in west Belfast, has also been charged with membership of the IRA.

He is due to appear before Belfast Magistrates Court tomorrow morning.

Jean McConville, who was 37, was abducted by the IRA in December 1972 from her home in west Belfast. Her body was discovered on a beach in Louth more than 30 years later in August 2003.

McConville was a widow who had ten children, and her family have spoken about the devastating impact her death had on them.

One of her sons, Michael McConville, who was 11 when his mother was killed, has said he has met members of the IRA on four separate occasions and asked them about his mother’s death.

The family was told that their mother was alive for approximately 12 hours after being abducted before she was killed.

Earlier this week: 77-year-old man arrested in connection with Jean McConville murder >

Read: PSNI appeal for man who phoned Jean McConville’s family in the 90s to come forward >

More: More pressure for Adams as documentary puts issue of IRA membership back in spotlight >