Political coups aside, McCartney’s shadow looms large

IT was everybody else’s fault: Ian Paisley’s, David Trimble’s, Mary Harney’s, Michael McDowell’s. Particularly Michael McDowell’s.

And what were they to blame for? Everything: the peace process falling apart, republicans blamed for the Northern Bank robbery, Sinn Fein getting vilified.

The one thing Sinn Féin couldn’t apportion the blame for elsewhere, though, was the murder of Robert McCartney on January 30 in Belfast. Following the courageous stance taken by Mr McCartney’s sisters, SF and the IRA were forced to concede that some of their members were involved in the murder.

Gerry Adams acknowledged as much again in his address to the Árd Fheis on Saturday.

Shortly before he began, Mr Adams had led the McCartney sisters into their seats at the front of the hall. Predictably enough, the women received a standing ovation. During the applause, a sole delegate towards the back of the hall attempted to start a chant, shouting “Robert, Robert, Robert.” The clapping continued, but no one added their voice.

For all the criticism of SF as a movement, it is perhaps sometimes forgotten that many of its members are just the same as those of Fianna Fail or Fine Gael - ordinary, decent people committed to a particular set of political beliefs. Perhaps at that moment they felt it a touch too opportunistic to shout the name of a man whose death fellow party members had had a hand in.

Whatever the case, it was enough that the sisters were in the hall. Mr Adams had pulled off what was widely seen as a political coup by inviting them to the RDS; the party as a whole could show that it didn’t condone the murder, that it really cared, and that, most importantly, it had the faith and goodwill of the McCartney sisters.

Except the sisters didn’t play ball. They sat and listened as Mr Adams made clear his belief that those responsible should admit to their involvement in a court of law. They met briefly with Mr Adams and other senior party members after the address. But when time to came to deliver their judgment, they were not about to let SF off the hook.

“The bottom line is that until those who committed Robert’s murder, and their accomplices, are brought to justice and standing in court, we will not accept that everything can be done, has been done,” said Catherine McCartney.

And so, the shadow hanging over this Árd Fheis was never entirely lifted. It was meant to be one of triumph, of a party celebrating its centennial, as sure of its destiny as it was of its past. But events of the last few weeks had changed all that. The quagmire SF has found itself in of late meant a strong measure of introspection was unavoidable. Evidence of this, particularly about the McCartney murder, surfaced in Mr Adams’s speech.

After it was all done and dusted, the hall emptied of delegates. There were smiles and handshakes; maybe a sense of relief that the key moment of a difficult convention was now over. For make no mistake about it, Mr Adams had been feeling the pressure.

As he walked to a reception for international guests in another part of the RDS, he was clearly in no mood for questions, issuing a couple of terse responses before saying: “Let me have a break”, and then forcing a smile.