McCartney murder: Four statements to Ombudsman

Just four statements from people who were in the pub where IRA murder victim Robert McCartney was attacked have been handed to the Police Ombudsman, it emerged tonight.

And the victim‘s sisters believe the level of non-cooperation proves republicans never genuinely wanted to aid their quest for justice.

The McCartneys insisted the Belfast bar was packed with drinking IRA men and Sinn Féin members when the violence spilled outside.

After arriving home from White House talks with President George Bush, Catherine McCartney said: “If they had been serious about people coming forward they could have said this is a list of people who were there on the night and they are willing to go forward to the Ombudsman.

“It seems they have had no real intention of helping us.”

Even though republicans refuse to deal with the police service, Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams has urged all 70 people who were in Magennis‘s Bar when the cut throat gang first struck to give details to Ombudsman Mrs O‘Loan‘s staff.

But so far only three Sinn Féin representatives and a fourth, unidentified witness have provided accounts on the January 30 brawl which have been passed from their solicitors to the Ombudsman.

Party election candidates Cora Groogan and Deirdre Hargey, along with former Belfast councillor Sean Hayes have given statements.

All three are understood to say they saw no fighting in the bar, with sources confirming they have little evidential value to the police investigation.

But the sisters were astonished by Ms Groogan‘s version, claiming she has not supplied vital information.

They claimed a taxi driver who took her to another bar in the city heard her describe events in Magennis’s over the phone.

So far 11 people have been questioned about the murder which has plunged a republican movement, already under unprecedented pressure over the Northern Bank heist, into its biggest ever crisis.

The IRA has expelled three men suspected of being involved in the killing, while Sinn Féin has suspended seven members.

Yet the party has continued to face a barrage of attacks, none more vicious than from the victim‘s family.

Mr McCartney‘s five sisters and fiancee have accused republicans of a wall of silence that has thwarted police attempts to hunt down the murderers.

After last week‘s meetings with President Bush and other Washington powerbrokers, they now plan to take their fight to Europe.

A campaign centre is also to be opened in Belfast in a bid to stop interest from flagging.

Another sister, Gemma, pledged there would be no let up.

“It seems that that bar was more or less full of Sinn Féin members and IRA members than originally we thought,” she said.

“We thought at the start maybe that they were blood related – which was what was preventing people coming forward – ties of loyalty to each other.”

Catherine McCartney also confirmed she would not be standing for elections, but stressed it was because the effort would detract from the campaign rather than any Sinn Féin caution to avoid party politics.

In a savage attack on republican strategies, she claimed attempts had been made to undermine a group of women who refuse to give up.

“It‘s a sexist smear campaign,” she insisted.

“The fact that we are women means there must be someone pulling our strings because we can‘t think for ourselves.

“But the reality is this is just an issue of justice.”