Irish government concerned PSNI taking Boston College IRA tapes will destabilize peace process

While the PSNI has begun making plans to subpoena the Boston College ‘Belfast Project’ interview tapes, some are fearful that the exposure of the tapes could bring down Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams and, in turn, the peace process in Northern Ireland.

A spokeswoman for the PSNI said, "We are making plans to take possession of the material and proceed with our inquiry."

Forming an integral part of the oral history of The Troubles in Northern Ireland, the interviews with former IRA members for ‘The Belfast Project’ were conducted through Boston College by journalist Ed Moloney and academic Anthony McIntyre, who are both well-know Gerry Adams critics.

One of the interviews was with Dolours Price, who died in January. It is rumored that in her interview, she implicates Gerry Adams with the 1972 disappearance and murder of mother-of-ten Jean McConville from Belfast. PSNI are hoping to receive the tapes in order to gather more information about McConville’s disappearance.

Adams has consistently denied any association with the IRA, as well as any involvement with McConville’s disappearance.

The Belfast Telegraph reports that the authorities investigating McConville’s disappearance had called for the US government to subpoena the interview tapes, invoking a treaty between Britain and the US. The Republic’s department of foreign affairs and the Irish Embassy are monitoring the matter.

However, an Irish government source told the Belfast Telegraph that the coalition government are worried: "We'd have a concern about what might happen when they are released.”

Jack Dunn, spokesman for Boston College, said that the tapes were made with an understanding that the interviews would only be released as the individuals died, within the boundaries of American law.

He added that Boston College is awaiting its appeal of the US District Court ruling on the second set of subpoenas that demanded the release of additional interviews with IRA members.

Of the tapes, Moloney said that some could incite the downfall of Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams.

"With Gerry Adams will also fall the peace process," he stated.