McCartney family considers Sinn Féin suspensions
The family of murdered Belfast father-of-two Robert McCartney is today considering its response to moves by Sinn Féin to suspend seven of its members over allegations that they were involved in the murder.
As Sinn Féin members prepared for the start of their three-day annual conference in Dublin, party leader Gerry Adams confirmed that he had been given a list of suspects by the family.
The west Belfast MP said he had asked Sinn Féin to find out if there were members of the party on the list, and on discovering that there were, the seven people were suspended.
Mr Adams said the suspensions were pending the outcome of any legal proceedings over the murder in a Belfast city centre bar on January 30.
Mr McCartney was stabbed to death, and a friend, Brendan Devine, was also seriously wounded after a row escalated into violence.
A number of people who have been questioned about the murder have been released without charge.
Last week the IRA said it had expelled three members following an internal investigation into the incident. Two of the Provisionals were senior members.
Mr McCartney’s sisters welcomed the IRA’s statement but have been pressing for republicans to go further, insisting that more than three IRA members were involved.
The family has been anxious for witnesses to come forward, having claimed in the aftermath of the murder that the IRA was shielding members involved in the attack and intimidating witnesses.
Sinn Féin and the IRA have urged people to come forward with information.
But because of their opposition to new policing arrangements in the North, they have stopped short of asking people to go to the police.
They have suggested that witnesses should make statements through their solicitors.
Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan has also intervened, saying her investigating officers will take statements.
Mr Adams last night confirmed that he had passed on the list of suspects he had received from the McCartney family to the Ombudsman office.
