McCartney family call for an end to intimidation

THE family of murdered Belfast man Robert McCartney have called on senior Sinn Féin members to use their influence to end a ‘fresh round of intimidation’ against their family and friends.

Robert McCartney’s sister, Paula, was speaking after a family friend was attacked near the Short Strand area of east Belfast on Monday night by a gang of men alleged to have close links to her brother’s murderers.

Jeff Commander, a father-of-five and friend of Robert McCartney, was badly beaten in the assault, which followed an altercation between the McCartney family and local republicans.