Close to half of voters believe Gerry Adams was involved in the murder of Jean McConville. The mother of ten was abducted and murdered by the IRA in 1972.

A Millward Brown/Irish Independent poll shows that 45% of voters believe the Sinn Féin leader was involved in the murder, and less than a quarter believe Adams when he claims he had nothing to do with the killing. The poll also finds that one fifth of voters would be more likely to vote for Sinn Féin if Adams was no longer party leader. The impact of Adams as leader does not appear to be a majorly decisive factor for the electorate however, as over half of voters, 58%, say that were Adams to step down it would make no difference to if they vote for Sinn Fein.

Along with the 45% who believe Adams was directly involved in the murder, a further 32% say they don’t know if they believe he was or was not involved. Just over one fifth, 23%, of voters believe he had nothing to do with the crime. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Sinn Féin voters were more likely to believe Adams was not involved, but less than half, just 45%, of the party’s supporters believe Adams was involved.

Adams was arrested by the PSNI earlier this month and questioned for four days in relation to the case. Following his release Addams reiterated that he had no involvement in the abduction and murder of McConville. Sinn Féin have claimed the arrest was politically motivated and an attempt to derail the party’s surge in the polls ahead of local and European elections. Sinn Féin is currently on course to make significant gains, with the party looking likely to take a seat in each of the three European constituencies.

The poll interviewed 1,500 people earlier this week.