McCartney sisters ‘icons of courage’
January’s fatal stabbing of the father-of-two by alleged IRA members caused public outrage and plunged the Northern peace process into deep crisis.
Mr McCartney’s sisters Claire, Donna, Catherine, Paula and Gemma as well as his partner Bridgeen Hagans last night accepted the first Michael Davitt Justice Award in Co Mayo.
Presenting it, Humbert Summer School director John Cooney paid tribute to the women’s inspirational fight to bring Mr McCartney’s killers to justice.
“These women are true icons of courage of our generation and have won the respect of people everywhere,” Mr Cooney told a packed Ridgepool Hotel in Ballina.
“The strength and resilience they have shown in the face of Mafia-style intimidation by the IRA is truly admirable.”
A public campaign waged by the women won widespread political support in Dublin, London, Brussels and Washington.
They also secured EU anti-terrorism funding to bring a civil action against their brother’s murderers.
The 19th annual Humbert Summer School in Ballina commemorates French republican General Jean Joseph Humbert and Irish Land League founder Michael Davitt.
The McCartney women were also accorded a civic reception by Dublin Lord Mayor Michael Conaghan in May and nominated for the prestigious Robert Burns Humanitarian Award the same month.
