THE case of veteran republican Ivor Bell is to hear from two leading psychiatrists over the holding of any potential trial and his alleged connection with the disappearance of Belfast mother-of-10 Jean McConville.
Belfast Crown Court heard that consultants disagree over the holding of any trial and or affect it may have on the health of the 81 year-old.
Mr Justice Colton said 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 the fitness to plead as well as any "potential health dangers" any trial process may have.
The defence maintain the health of the west Belfast man, from Ramoan Gardens, Andersonstown, is such he is unfit to stand trial, and that any trial would have further detrimental affect upon him.
However, the prosecution argued that all hearing involved stress for a defendant, and in the circumstances the court could take whatever steps necessary to ensure there was no added stress for the pensioner.
Proceedings have faced continuing delays over the state of the health and fitness of the pensioner.
As in previous proceedings Mr Bell, who has yet to be formally arraigned on the two charges he faces in connection with the murder and disappearance of Mrs McConville 45 years ago, was excused from attending court.
The charges arise out of the IRA abduction and murder of Mrs McConville from her Divis flat home in west Belfast in December 1972.
Mr Bell is charged with encouraging 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.
He denies the charges.
Mr Bell’s solicitor Peter Corrigan last night said he believed that with the medical evidence "it's almost inevitable there will be no criminal proceedings".
