IRA expels three over pub killing

THE Provisional IRA last revealed it had kicked out three of its members, believed to be linked to the murder of Belfast man Robert McCartney.

The IRA insisted, however, the organisation itself was not involved in the killing. The three men dismissed are believed to be senior members of the organisation.

In a significant move, the IRA leadership conceded that republicans were involved in the murder. The decision had followed an internal investigation.

The IRA statement also described Mr McCartney’s death on January 30 last as a brutal killing.

In a five-page statement, the organisation warned that any intimidation or threats in the name of the IRA, or otherwise, to any person who wishes to help the McCartney family, would not be tolerated.

According to the IRA statement, one of the three expelled volunteers had made a statement to a solicitor and two others had been “advised to take responsibility for their actions”.

Mr McCartney was stabbed to death outside a pub close to the city centre on January 30.

The IRA statement came after Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said he had held a meeting with members of the McCartney family.

Mr Adams described the meeting on Thursday as positive. He said it was the patriotic duty of everyone to try and help the McCartney family have the killer or killers of the 33-year-old brought to justice.

Earlier this week, Mr McCartney’s sisters claimed that fear of the IRA was playing a bigger part in keeping witnesses silent in the case than any difficulties nationalists had with the PSNI.

After a meeting with Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern, Paula McCartney said: “People have not come forward for probably a combination of things, but mostly because people are afraid.”

Mr Ahern assured the family of the Government’s support.

Meanwhile, Fine Gael confirmed last night that the party had decided to devote its Dáil Private Members time next week to allow TDs express their solidarity with the McCartney family. The Fine Gael motion will also call on those who have vital information about the crime to be encouraged to come forward to give statements to PSNI so that prosecutions could be undertaken.

Also yesterday, Mr Adams said that an opinion poll, showing that his personal popularity had slumped, was deeply disappointing.

The Millward Brown IMS poll showed the Sinn Féin leader’s satisfaction rating was just 31%, down 20%, although SF support remained unchanged.