The family of Jean McConville have been granted leave to seek a judicial review over the non-disclosure of the defunct Historical Enquiries Team’s (HET) draft report into her killing.

Mr Justice Paul Maguire, sitting in the High Court in Belfast, ruled that Mrs McConville’s family had an arguable case.

Counsel for PSNI Chief Constable George Hamilton said the HET’s findings would not be released until there was no risk of prejudicing any prosecutions.

However, Danny Friedman QC, acting for Mrs McConville’s family, said the family would accept a redacted version of the report if that resolved the issue.

Mr Friedman said any police shortcomings identified within the report should not be given as justification for withholding it.

Leave was granted on the basis that non-disclosure was allegedly unreasonable and in breach of an article 2 obligation under the European Convention on Human Rights.

A full judicial review hearing will take place later this year.