Stomach Wound Killed Bar Brawl Victim

The trial of the man accused of killing Short Strand man, Robert McCartney has heard that a single stomach wound killed the victim.

Belfast Crown Court heard yesterday from the Deputy State Pathologist, Dr Alistair Bentley, who conducted a post mortem on Mr McCartney in February 2005.

He told the court that the seriously injured 33-year-old was brought to the A&E department of the Royal Victoria Hospital with a stab wound to his abdomen late on the evening of January 30.

Mr McCartney had a heart attack and after he was resuscitated by the medical team, he was brought to theatre where he had a second cardiac arrest.

Dr Bentley said that following surgery, Mr McCartney's condition deteriorated and after suffering a third heart attack, he was pronounced dead at 8.12am on January 31.

He said: "Robert McCartney died of a stab wound to his abdomen."

Dr Bentley also detailed several facial injuries – which he described as "non-specific" – including a fractured nose and a cluster of cuts to his right eye that he said could have been caused by "something like a shard of glass".

The court has already heard witness Brendan Devine describe how he too had been attacked and even had his throat cut.

He allegedly saw the accused, 61-year-old Terence Davison "gouging" at Mr McCartney's face. He told prosecuting QC Ciaran Murphy: "I will not forget the expression on his face 'til the day I die."

The accused denies killing the 30-year-old father-of-two in January 2005 while his co-accused, 39-year-old James McCormick and Joseph Fitzpatrick both deny causing an affray.

Mr Devine, who had known Mr McCartney for almost two decades, said they had been drinking and watching football in Magennis's Bar when an argument broke out over a rude gesture which Mr McCartney had made with Davison's wife mistakenly thinking it had been directed at her.

See: Bar Brawl Recalled At McCartney Trial

(BMcC)