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02/11/2012
Republican Charged Over McCartney Murder
A leading republican faces charges relating to the murder of Robert McCartney in 2005.
The accused is reported to be Padraic Wilson, who was the leader of IRA prisoners at the Maze in the early nineties.
Wilson was a key figure in gaining republican prisoners’ support for IRA ceasefires and Sinn Féin’s cross-party talks at Stormont, which led to the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.
Now he faces charges over the murder of Robert McCartney.
Robert McCartney was a father of two from the Short Strand area of Belfast. He was 33 years old when he was beaten and stabbed following an argument at Magennis’s Bar on May Street close to Belfast City Hall.
Following their brother’s murder, McCartney’s sisters accused Sinn Féin and republicans of working to cover up the killing and intimidating and persuading witnesses.
Their subsequent justice campaign resulted in a trip to the White House.
It was claimed the murder happened after IRA members were involved in a fight. Sinn Féin rejected the claims.
But the sisters' campaign raised international awareness of the murder and also took them to Sinn Féin's ard fheis in Dublin.
No one was ever found guilty of Mr McCartney's killing, despite reports that up to 40 people were in the bar at the time he was assaulted.
In 2008, 51-year-old Terence Davison was acquitted of the murder and two other men were cleared of charges connected to the killing.
Following accusations from the victim’s sisters, the IRA expelled three members over the murder. Sinn Féin subsequently suspended seven of its members.
(IT)
The accused is reported to be Padraic Wilson, who was the leader of IRA prisoners at the Maze in the early nineties.
Wilson was a key figure in gaining republican prisoners’ support for IRA ceasefires and Sinn Féin’s cross-party talks at Stormont, which led to the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.
Now he faces charges over the murder of Robert McCartney.
Robert McCartney was a father of two from the Short Strand area of Belfast. He was 33 years old when he was beaten and stabbed following an argument at Magennis’s Bar on May Street close to Belfast City Hall.
Following their brother’s murder, McCartney’s sisters accused Sinn Féin and republicans of working to cover up the killing and intimidating and persuading witnesses.
Their subsequent justice campaign resulted in a trip to the White House.
It was claimed the murder happened after IRA members were involved in a fight. Sinn Féin rejected the claims.
But the sisters' campaign raised international awareness of the murder and also took them to Sinn Féin's ard fheis in Dublin.
No one was ever found guilty of Mr McCartney's killing, despite reports that up to 40 people were in the bar at the time he was assaulted.
In 2008, 51-year-old Terence Davison was acquitted of the murder and two other men were cleared of charges connected to the killing.
Following accusations from the victim’s sisters, the IRA expelled three members over the murder. Sinn Féin subsequently suspended seven of its members.
(IT)
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Arrest In McCartney Murder Inquest
A man has been arrested in connection with the murder of Robert McCartney in 2005. The 53-year-old man has been taken to Antrim police station for questioning. Robert McCartney was a father of two from the Short Strand area of Belfast.
Arrest In McCartney Murder Inquest
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