Ten suspects in McCartney killing staying silent, say North police
Their refusal to disclose details about the knifing was confirmed as the victim’s sisters prepared to take their campaign for justice to Washington.
With the republican movement facing an unprecedented crisis following the Belfast killing blamed on an IRA gang, Northern Ireland’s Police Ombudsman is on standby to record crucial eye-witness accounts from anyone in Magennis’s bar when the deadly row broke out. Nuala O’Loan insisted statements given to her investigators could be used in the trial of anyone charged with the father-of-two’s murder.
Despite Mr McCartney’s sisters attempting to break down the wall of silence, detectives have still to be told who started the fight and details of any later attempts to forensically clean the pub.
Superintendent George Hamilton told how those detained by police have refused to co-operate.
“Of the 10 people that have been arrested, they have exercised their legal right to remain silent and not to engage with us during the interview process,” he said.
“That means us, as the serious crime branch in the Police Service of Northern Ireland, relying heavily upon people who are witnesses to this murder to come forward and provide evidence to us.”
Amid unrelenting pressure, Gerry Adams and the Sinn Féin leadership has suspended seven party members over the January 30 killing. Their names were on a list of suspects passed to Mr Adams by the McCartney family, who described the move as a belated step forward.
They said: “The basic action taken by Sinn Féin in relation to their members involved in Robert’s murder is nothing more than what would have been expected from any democratically elected party.
“Although we would have liked this to have happened earlier as those names have been known to Sinn Féin officials from the outset.”
The dead man’s family have staged a street rally and lobbied the Government as part of their campaign.
They are now ready to go the White House later this month, where the Bush administration has already cancelled annual St Patrick’s Day invitations to Northern Ireland’s political parties.
Paula McCartney, one of the victim’s sisters, told RTÉ: “We are going to Washington on March 15.
“The programme itself hasn’t been officially sorted out, but as we’ve heard, the White House has advised that we get visa papers so that to me is an indication that the White House obviously wants to hear us.”
Earlier, Mrs O’Loan claimed her involvement could strengthen trust in the police service.
The watchdog said she had offered to get involved in an attempt to end the silence.
“This is a community in crisis,” she said.
“This matter is being discussed in Washington, London, Dublin and in Belfast constantly.
“The whole thing seems to have ground to a stop because there is such intimidation of witnesses.
“We want to help people to engage with the system.”
Even though 70 people were in the city centre bar when the row erupted, continued republican distrust of the police, coupled with a fear of reprisals, has hampered the inquiry.
Sinn Féin leaders were criticised for suggesting any witnesses should contact lawyers or the clergy, rather than police.
Mrs O’Loan said: “We can offer something which priests and solicitors, who are the other people who have been suggested to take this evidence, can’t offer.
“That is that our investigators are trained to take statements which will be evidentially admissible.”
Once any statements had been handed over to police her role would end, the Ombudsman stressed.
But that involvement could be critical in developing the confidence in the Police Service of Northern Ireland among all sections, she claimed.
“Parts of our community are engaged in police for the first time,” she said.
“That can be something that builds trust and trust clearly is building in police in Northern Ireland.
“We are just putting a small offer that we will take statements, nothing more,” she added.
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