In 2014 Ivor Bell was arrested in connection with the 1972 murder of Jean McConville.
20 Facts About Ivor Bell
1.
2.
Ivor Bell rejoined the republican movement in 1970, and become the commander of the Kashmir Road-based C Company of the Provisional IRA Belfast Brigade.
3.
Adams and Ivor Bell were sceptical about the proposed cease-fire and did not trust the British government.
4.
In February 1974, Ivor Bell was arrested on information provided by one of the "Disappeared" Eamon Molloy.
5.
Ivor Bell was placed in Cage 11 at Long Kesh Detention Centre along with Hughes and Adams.
6.
On 15 April 1974, Ivor Bell escaped when he swapped places with a visitor and walked out of the prison.
7.
Ivor Bell was recaptured two weeks later at a flat in the affluent Malone Road area of south Belfast after Molloy had informed the security services of his whereabouts.
Related searches
Kevin McKenna 8.
In 1982, Martin McGuinness quit as Chief of Staff and Ivor Bell took over his position.
9.
Ivor Bell was arrested, on evidence provided by another supergrass, Robert "Beedo" Lean, in 1983.
10.
In line with IRA rules, contained within The Green Book, Ivor Bell lost his position as chief of staff, which was then taken by Kevin McKenna from the Tyrone Brigade.
11.
On release from prison in 1983, Ivor Bell was reappointed to the Army Council but did not regain his position as chief of staff.
12.
Ivor Bell was the IRA's representative to Libya during the late 1970s and the early 1980s.
13.
In 1984, Ivor Bell openly opposed Adams' proposal to increase spending on election campaigns instead of the war against Britain.
14.
Ivor Bell was a hard-line militarist who opposed the use of funds by Sinn Fein and resented moves to end abstentionism.
15.
Ivor Bell emerged as the head of a group, which included senior figures like Danny McCann.
16.
Ivor Bell was arrested by the Police Service of Northern Ireland on 18 March 2014 for questioning in relation to the abduction and murder of Jean McConville in 1972.
17.
Ivor Bell appeared in court on 22 March 2014 and was initially refused bail, though it was granted on 26 March.
18.
On 7 July 2016, it was announced that Ivor Bell would stand trial for McConville's murder.
19.
Ivor Bell's lawyers had argued for the charges to be dropped, claiming a lack of evidence to support a trial.
20.
Ivor Bell's trial was postponed due to the claim by Bell's legal team that he suffered from dementia and would not be able to fully participate in the trial.