Two held in relation to McCartney murder

Two men were today arrested in connection with the murder of Belfast father of two Robert McCartney.

Police said the men were also being questioned about the attempted murder of Brendan Devine, who was drinking with Mr McCartney in a Belfast bar in January when they were attacked.

Mr McCartney, 33, was stabbed outside the bar.

His family have accused IRA members of carrying out the attack.

In June, two men were remanded in custody charged in connection with the murder.

The McCartney family have waged a high profile campaign for justice over the killing, meeting senior politicians in the United States, Europe, the North and the Irish Republic.

In March they met US President George Bush at a St Patrick’s Day reception in the White House.

They have also met an Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, US envoy to Northern Ireland Mitchell Reiss and senior European Commission officials.