IRA witness threat lifted, says McCartney family

The IRA has lifted its threats to witnesses to a brutal Belfast murder, the victim's family said today.

The family of Robert McCartney (33), who was beaten and stabbed to death outside a bar on January 30th, had alleged senior IRA members were involved and claimed the IRA were intimidating witnesses.

Robert McCartney, who was killed at January 30th

The attack, which also left a friend of Mr McCartney's seriously injured, happened in front of around 70 people. The family claim the pub was meticulously cleaned by the IRA to dispose of forensic evidence.

Even though the identities of the men responsible are widely known within the nationalist community in the Short Strand area of East Belfast, no one has been charged with the killing.

Police have detained eight people, including a man who is still being questioned following his arrest last night. One of the prime suspects is reportedly a senior Belfast IRA man.

The IRA issued a statement last night denying it was involved. "The IRA was not involved in the brutal killing of Robert McCartney," said a statement signed P O'Neill. "Those who were involved must take responsibility for their own actions, which run contrary to republican ideals.

"It has been reported that people are being intimidated or prevented from assisting the McCartney family in their search for truth and justice.

"We wish to make it absolutely clear that no one should hinder or impede the McCartney family in their search for justice," it said. "Those who were involved must take responsibility for their own actions which run contrary to republican ideals."

In a statement this morning, Mr McCartney's family said they accepted republicans were not impeding witnesses. "We welcome the IRA statement and view it as removing obstacles to witnesses who were afraid to come forward with vital information and evidence."

Flanked by her sister as she spoke at the family's home, Ms Paula McCartney added: "The statement made by the IRA strongly supports the family's position with regards to justice and truth prevailing.

"We appeal to anyone who can help us as a family to bring an end to this nightmare and in doing so set us free to begin our grieving for Robert."

Sinn Féin insisted this morning that it was not involved in a cover-up over the murder.

"I am in the higher echelons of Sinn Féin and I can tell you that the leadership of Sinn Féin is in no way involved in a cover-up and will do all they can in bringing justice and truth to the family," the party's justice spokesman, Mr Gerry Kelly, told RTÉ's Morning Ireland.

He accused the media of turning the murder into a political football by focusing on Sinn Féin's refusal to tell witnesses to contact the police. He said that even though people may wish to help the McCartney family, there were "deep reservations" among nationalists and republicans about the PSNI.

Mr Kelly said while his support for the McCartney family is "unqualified", he would not be trying to compel witnesses, who may themselves have suffered at the hands of the PSNI and the RUC, to contact a police force they did not trust. "The McCartney family understand that," he said.

He also denied there was an IRA "writ of silence" about the murder. The IRA, he said, has called publicly for support for the McCartneys and said "there should be no interference" with people who have information.

Asked if there should be a trial and if local people should testify, Mr Kelly said: "There needs to be justice . . . we are not going to mete out justice. What we are doing is we are helping the McCartney family as best we can, both publicly and privately."