Psychiatrists to tell judge if Jean accused is fit for trial

THE case of veteran republican Ivor Bell is to hear from two psychiatrists regarding the holding of any potential trial and his alleged connection with the disappearance of Jean McConville.

Yesterday Belfast Crown Court heard consultants disagree over the holding of any trial and the effect it might have on his health.

Mr Justice Colton said that before deciding on the issue he did not want to be left in a “position of speculating” and wanted to hear from the psychiatrists on Bell’s fitness to plead as well as any “potential health dangers” any trial process might have.

The defence maintains the health of Bell (81), from Ramoan Gardens, Andersonstown, is such that he is unfit to stand trial, and that any trial would have further detrimental affect upon him.

However, the prosecution argues that all hearings involved stress for a defendant, and the court could take steps to ensure there was no additional stress.

Bell has yet to be formally arraigned on the two charges he faces in connection with the murder and disappearance of Mrs McConville, a mother-of-10, almost 45 years ago.

He was originally charged with aiding and abetting her murder, and being an IRA member, but they were amended by the Public Prosecution Service.

The charges he now faces claim that “on a date unknown between the 31st day of October 1972 and the 1st day of January 1973 he encouraged persons not before the court to murder Jean McConville”, while the second accuses him of having “endeavoured to persuade persons” to carry out the murder.