Two men held in McCartney murder case

TWO men were arrested and questioned yesterday in connection with the murder of a Belfast man who was stabbed to death outside a bar in the city.

The two are being quizzed about the death of Robert McCartney, the father of two who was beaten and stabbed to death outside Magennis’s pub in late January.

They are also being questioned about the attempted murder of Brendan Devine, who survived the attack.

Mr McCartney’s partner and sisters launched a campaign for justice after claiming members of the IRA were involved in the attack and took part in a cover up operation designed to protect those centrally involved.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland refused last night to say where the two suspects were arrested. They can be held for an initial period of 72 hours before investigators have to apply for an extension.

In June, two men were remanded in custody charged in connection with the murder.

Mr McCartney, 33, and Mr Devine were drinking in the bar when a dispute broke out with a group of republicans who had just returned from a Blood Sunday commemoration in Derry.

The pair were attacked in the bar and the violence spilled on to the street.

The McCartney family have waged a high profile campaign for justice over the killing, meeting senior politicians in the US, Europe, Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic.

In March they met US President George Bush at a St Patrick’s Day reception in the White House.

They have also met Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, US envoy to Northern Ireland Mitchell Reiss and senior European Commission officials.