SF MEPs defend decision not to back McCartney motion

Sinn Féin's two MEPs have defended their decision not to back moves to get the EU to fund a possible civil action against the alleged killers of Robert McCartney.

Yesterday, the European Parliament overwhelmingly passed a motion calling for anti-terrorism funds to be used to fund any potential civil case.

Sinn Féin's Bairbre de Brun and Mary-Lou McDonald refused to back the motion, a move that attracted criticism from their opponents in the other Irish political parties.

However, Ms McDonald said afterwards that her party would not back the text because it called for co-operation with the PSNI.

She also said any move to use money put aside for the victims of terrorism to fund any civil case was an attempt to politicise the McCartney killing in order to damage Sinn Féin.

"The horrific murder of Robert McCartney was not a political act," she said. "It was a murder pure and simple and whatever support comes to the McCartney family has to come from the correct source."