Man arrested in connection with McCartney murder

A 53-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the murder of Robert McCartney seven years ago.

The suspect was detained by detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) serious crime branch this morning.

A PSNI spokesman said the man had been taken to the Antrim serious crime suite for further questioning.

Mr McCartney, 33, a father of two from the Short Strand area of Belfast, was beaten and stabbed after a row at a bar close to the city centre in January 2005.

He died later in hospital.

His sisters, who have accused republicans of covering up the killing and intimidating witnesses, launched a campaign for justice which took them to the White House.

To date no-one has been convicted.