GERRY ADAMS remained in police custody overnight after being arrested by detectives investigating the murder of Jean McConville.
The Sinn Féin President has rejected the allegations made by former republican colleagues that he had a role in ordering the IRA killing of the Belfast mother-of-ten in 1972.
He was held last night at a police station in Antrim after voluntarily presenting himself for interview.
Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald said the arrest was "politically motivated" and designed to damage the party and its president.
Although no one has ever been charged with the murder of Mrs McConville, there have been a series of arrests in recent weeks in relation to her murder.
In March, veteran republican Ivor Bell, 77, was charged with aiding and abetting the murder.
Five other people have been detained and questioned.
The recent police activity has come after a US court ordered a university in Boston to hand over recorded interviews with republicans to the PSNI about Mrs McConville's murder.
Boston College had interviewed a number of former paramilitaries about the Troubles on the understanding the transcripts would not be published until after their deaths.
In the wake of the recent developments, Mr Adams said in March he would be available to meet detectives if they wished to speak with him.
The 65-year-old, who has always denied membership of the IRA, issued a statement minutes after the PSNI announced an arrest had been made.
"While I have concerns about the timing, I am voluntarily meeting with the PSNI this evening," he said last night, questioning why police chose to interview him in the run up to the Local and European Elections.
"As a republican leader I have never shirked my responsibility to build the peace. This includes dealing with the difficult issue of victims and their families.
"Insofar as it is possible I have worked to bring closure to victims and their families who have contacted me. Even though they may not agree, this includes the family of Jean McConville.
"I believe that the killing of Jean McConville and the secret burial of her body was wrong and a grievous injustice to her and her family.
"Well publicised, malicious allegations have been made against me. I reject these.
"While I have never disassociated myself from the IRA and I never will, I am innocent of any part in the abduction, killing or burial of Mrs McConville."
A PSNI spokesman said last night: "Detectives from the serious crime branch investigating the abduction and murder of Jean McConville in 1972 have arrested a 65-year-old man in Antrim.
"The suspect is currently being interviewed by detectives at the serious crime suite in Antrim police station."
Mrs McConville, a 37-year-old widow, was dragged away from her children in her home in the Divis flats, west Belfast, by an IRA gang of up to 12 men and women after being accused of passing information to the British Army in the city.
She was murdered and secretly buried, becoming one of the Disappeared victims of the Troubles.
An investigation later carried out by the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman rejected the claims that she was an informer.
The IRA did not officially admit responsibility for the murder until 1999 when information was passed to gardaí.
It was not until August 2003 that her remains were found on Shelling Hill beach in Co Louth.
See More: Gerry Adams, Northern Ireland, The Troubles
