McCartney family consider civil case against IRA killers

THE family of murdered Belfast father of two Robert McCartney are considering a civil action against his killers similar to the case against people accused of the Omagh bomb.

As Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams branded those responsible for the murder cowards, Mr McCartney's sister, Catherine, confirmed last night they were exploring whether a civil action could be taken if it proved impossible to bring his killers to court.

"We are looking, if we cannot get those who killed my brother into court on criminal charges, at the possibility of a legal action similar to the Omagh families' civil action," she said. "It is one avenue we want to explore with lawyers and we will be seeking legal advice.

"However, our principal focus is on getting those responsible into court."

Robert McCartney, a 30-year-old forklift driver, was stabbed and beaten outside a Belfast city centre bar on January 30 and a friend, Brendan Devine, was also seriously wounded following a row with republicans.

The murder has placed the Republican Movement under intense political pressure on both sides of the Atlantic, with the victim's five sisters and partner accusing IRA members of carrying out the attack and covering up what happened. Despite the expulsion by the IRA of three of its members and calls from Mr Adams for witnesses to come forward, police have met a wall of silence.

Seven Sinn Féin members have been suspended pending the outcome of the murder investigation. However, with Sinn Féin unable to ask people to go directly to detectives with information because of their long-standing objection to the police in the North, the party leadership has urged witnesses to pass details to the Police Ombudsman through their solicitors.

Meanwhile, Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness acknowledged yesterday the IRA statement confirming it had offered to shoot the killers of Mr McCartney was a mistake. The Mid-Ulster MP said the offer had detracted from the IRA's attempt to dispel claims it was covering up the murder.

The Sinn Féin chief negotiator told ITV 1's Jonathan Dimbleby programme: "What we have to acknowledge first and foremost is that the statement that the IRA, that they were prepared to shoot the people responsible, was in my opinion a huge mistake.

"It also detracted from what was a very important statement, because the IRA, I think, in this statement dispelled any notion whatsoever that they were prepared to cover up for the people who murdered Robert McCartney... it would have been terribly wrong, and that it would have been deplorable."