31/10/2012

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. 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 centre.

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’ campaigned 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 murder, 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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