He rejoined the republican movement in 1970, and become the commander of the Kashmir Road-based C Company of the Provisional IRA Belfast Brigade.
[2] In 1972, Bell, now Belfast Brigade adjutant, along with Dáithí Ó Conaill, Seamus Twomey, Martin McGuinness, and Gerry Adams were flown to London by the Royal Air Force for secret ceasefire talks with British government ministers.
He 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.
In line with IRA rules, contained within The Green Book, Bell lost his position as chief of staff, which was then taken by Kevin McKenna from the Tyrone Brigade.
[7] Upon release Bell, and fellow prisoner Edward Carmichael, stated that they had both been offered immunity if they would incriminate Sinn Féin elected representatives Danny Morrison, Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness.
[9] In late 1984 and early 1985 the Libyan Intelligence Service moved to put in place a supply of arms to the IRA in order that they could more effectively fight the British Army, and Bell and Joe Cahill were instrumental in putting in place the Libyan arms smuggling plan.
[9] In 1984, Bell openly opposed Adams' proposal to increase spending on election campaigns instead of the war against Britain.
Bell was a hard-line militarist who opposed the use of funds by Sinn Féin and resented moves to end abstentionism.
[10][11] 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.