Loyalists protestors outside Antrim police station awaiting the departure of Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams.
British soldiers suspected of the murder of the victims of Bloody Sunday in Derry in January 1972 must now be arrested, a former Northern Ireland Secretary of State has said.
Peter Hain was speaking after the release from police custody of Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams.
Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams.
Mr Adams spent four and a half days at the serious crime suite in Antrim police station being questioned by detectives from the PSNI’S Terrorist Investigtion Unit about the abduction and murder of Belfast mother-of-ten Jean McConville in 1972.
The PSNI has confirmed the 65-year-old has been formally released without charge and that a file will be sent to the Public Prosecution Service to assess if any action should be taken against him.
Although Mr Adams has been released from police custody, he has yet to leave Antrim police station outside which loyalist protestors have gathered.
Speaking after Mr Adams release, Mr Hain said British soldiers suspected of the Bloody Sunday killings should now be arrested so that policing was seen to be even-handed.
The PSNI are currently investigating the January 1972 killings by members of the British army’s Parachute Regiment.
Former NI Secretary of State Peter Hain.
Mr Adams was arrested on Wednesday evening when he went voluntarily to meet police.
Detectives sought and were granted an extra 48 hours to quiz him by a Belfast court on Friday evening.
Police had until 8.00pm tonight to either charge or release him.
The Co Louth TD has strenuously denied being involved in the killing of the 37-year-old widow.
Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness, the North’s Deputy Minister, has condemned the detention of his party’s leader, claiming members of the “RUC old guard” with the PSNi were behind the move in attempt to influence the outcome of this month’s local government and European elections.
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