Verdict due in McCartney murder trial

The verdict in the Robert McCartney murder trial in Belfast is to be delivered today.

Terence Davison (aged 51) of Stanfield Place, Belfast, denies murder.

Mr McCartney (aged 33) was beaten and stabbed to death outside Magennis' bar in Belfast city centre on January 30, 2005. Brendan Devine, a friend of Mr McCartney, was also stabbed.

Davison is also accused of affray, as are James McCormick (aged 39) and Joseph Gerard Emmanuel Fitzpatrick (aged 47). They deny the charges.

Fitzpatrick is further charged with an assault on one of Mr McCartney's friends.

Father-of-two Mr McCartney is from east Belfast's nationalist Short Strand.

His five sisters travelled to Washington and Brussels in their campaign to bring the killers to justice.

They have spoken of their devastation since the killing, with broken relationships and house moves disrupting their lives.