McCartney sisters win support of US senators

Mary Dundon, Political Reporter and Victoria Ward in Washington

The McCartney sisters and Robert’s partner, Bridgeen Hagans, held a series of meetings with US politicians yesterday, starting with President George Bush’s envoy to the North, Mitchell Reiss.

This was followed by a series of meetings with US Senators Ted Kennedy, Hillary Clinton and John McCain at Capitol Hill who all pledged huge support for their campaign.

After meeting the McCartneys, Mr Reiss, condemned the “terrible terrible, terrible murder.”

The United States will do everything it can to support them, he added.

“I stand by all Americans in my admiration for their courage and determination to bring justice for Robert,” Mr Reiss said.

Before the meeting, the family said failure to bring the killers to justice would send a grave message to people in the North. The sisters said they were determined to make it known that such brutal murders should not be tolerated.

And they warned that even if a peace deal was struck, violence in Belfast would not end.

Catherine McCartney said: “There will still be people walking through the streets of Ireland able to kill because they belong to organisations.

“If these people are brought to account, it will be a sign to the people of Northern Ireland that law and order prevails and not men of violence.”

Ms McCartney said the fact that the family was in the US meant that their message was already being heard by those with influence in the North.

“We will work hard and while we will not see a result today, hopefully inevitably we will,” she said.

She did not rule out running for election in May, although she conceded that this may not be the best way to bring her brother’s killers to justice.

“Getting these people into court is our main aim,” she said. “There are always other options.”

Senators Ted Kennedy and Hillary Clinton were overwhelming in their support for the McCartney sisters’ campaign to find their brother’s killers.

Also in Washington last night, Northern Secretary Paul Murphy said the McCartney family’s extraordinary tale of personal tragedy and courage could prove to be the catalyst that finally brings peace to the North.

He had never seen such a groundswell of support for one family’s plight and said their dignity and determination could reap high reward for Irish people.

“These are not politicians, in no way are they being politically motivated,” he said.

“Their entire motivation is they want justice to be done and people can relate to a family tragedy and such personal circumstances in a way they perhaps can’t when talking in more general terms.”

Mr Murphy, in Washington to attend St Patrick’s Day events, said it was clear the intensely personal way the McCartneys had presented their case was having a deep impact.

“It is certainly playing a part in the peace process,” he said.

“You can see already here in the US what has happened in just two days.

“It’s not just a reaction from Irish America but from very, very senior politicians.

“Everybody understands that the McCartneys’ intent symbolises the difficulty that we are facing in Northern Ireland.”

Mr Murphy told the family he believed they could change the face of politics in the North and that in 10 years of travelling to Washington he had never seen such a reaction to a campaign.

“They won’t reach a deal in Northern Ireland unless criminal activity is tackled,” he added.