SF decision to pass information to Police Ombudsman ‘inadequate’

The family of murdered Belfast man Robert McCartney have said Sinn Fein’sdecision to pass on information to the Police Ombudsman relevant to the ongoing investigation “is an inadequate method of gathering evidence”.

The family where responding to news that Sinn Fein have suspended seven party members pending the outcome of the legal process into the investigation.

Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said a solicitor had been instructed to pass the list of names to the Police Ombudsman.

“I have made clear my support for the family in their search for justice and have called upon those involved in the killing and others with information about the killing to bring this information forward,” Mr Adams said.

“As part of these efforts to assist in the search for truth and justice I met the family of Robert McCartney a number of times.

“Although I stress that Sinn Féin has no basis to make any allegations against any of these suspended members at this time, and some or all may be innocent of any offence, I have instructed the solicitor to pass the names given to me by the McCartney family to the Police Ombudsman."

However, in a statement on Friday the McCartney family said the move was “nothing more than what would have been expected from any democratically elected party”.

"Although we would have liked this to have happened earlier as those names have been known to Sinn Fein officials from the outset,” the statement read.

"The handing over of the names to the police ombudsman through a solicitor is of symbolic significance.

"Providing a solicitor with a statement to be passed on to the ombudsman is an inadequate method of gathering evidence."

Sinn Fein delegates are currently gathering for their party conference in Dublin hours after the suspension of seven members in connection with the incident.

Mr McCartney, 33, was stabbed to death following a row in a Belfast city centre bar on January 30.

(MB)