Of course, I did not know Jean McConville. Until now he did not know his name, his life or his death. I first heard that name on 29 April, when Gerry Adams was arrested.

I've learned that Jean McConville, a widow in 1971, was a mother of ten children and lived in extreme poverty. In that harsh conflict in Northern Ireland, when Jean was 37 years old, IRA members gave him a brutal beating to frighten him and soon after – according to some sources – in December 1972, kidnapped from his home to his children, he was severely tortured and shot dead. It only became known in 1999, when the anger took over the murder, one year after the signing of the Good Friday Agreements. Subsequently, in 2003, the body appeared, found by a walker, about 80 kilometres from Belfast, buried on a beach. Their children have had very hard lives and now they are asking for truth and justice.

When I heard about all this, it became essential for me to come to our house. I do not know the keys to Northern Ireland. I therefore do not know whether all this is a perverse political campaign against Gerry Adams or why it has arisen at the moment. Although she was kidnapped in her house, I'm not very interested. In other words, I do not care who could harm or benefit from this fact. What I'm interested in is deciding, between all and all, what this means: translating the ghosts of the past or making reality and doing justice.

In the face of our challenges, it is clear – I have understood this at least – that in order for an effective peace process to progress, coexistence must be strengthened. And, at the same time, that coexistence cannot be rooted if truth, justice and reparation are not guaranteed.

This was approved a year ago, in May last year, the Social Forum presented the Recommendations for the Peace Process. Among them, and in short, the institutions must promote the mechanism of truth and reconciliation as an effective resource. Although our “narrative” is going to be very different, in all social and political sectors an honest attitude must be promoted that recognizes the self-criticism and the serious mistakes made, taking into account the rights of truth, justice and reparation that all victims have.

I do not know how this will be done. I don't know how far we want to know the truth and how far we want to do justice. I still have my doubts. Nor do I know how practical it will be if I take into account the reflections that have been made after Gerry Adams in Northern Ireland.

I know a reality, finished – it seems, unfortunately –, rounded and – innocent! – dreamed in different places. I refer to the Spanish reality, the “political transition”, where truth, justice and exaction were replaced by “amnesia”.

I know that much time has passed since the murder of Jean McConville and that the social situation and people have changed profoundly. I do not know your criminal law, I do not know how the limitation or pardon of crimes is regulated. On the other hand, I am aware that the response of justice must be adapted to the new time. But what do we do with the truth? In my opinion, the truth, justice, recognition and coexistence that we want for the future is compatible. Our society has tools for this, including pardon, but I will reflect on that on another occasion.