Four still held over Belfast pub brawl death

Two men being questioned by PSNI detectives about the murder of a man in a pub brawl were released unconditionally today.

Two men being questioned by PSNI detectives about the murder of a man in a pub brawl were released unconditionally today.

Four others are still under arrest over the fatal stabbing of 33-year-old Robert McCartney in Belfast.

Police have also gone back into Belfast's nationalist Short Strand, where officers were attacked with stones and other missiles during searches earlier this week.

Mr McCartney, a married father of two from the Mountpottinger Road in the Short Strand area, died in hospital after a fight broke out in Magennis's Bar in May Street on Sunday night.

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The 33-year-old was found lying unconscious in nearby Cromac Street. Another man aged 31 was also taken to hospital with a stab wound which was not life-threatening.

Several officers carrying out searches in the Short Strand and nearby Markets area were injured during disturbances over the past two days.

But Sinn Fein representatives have accused the police of heavy-handed tactics.

Meanwhile, the investigation moved outside Belfast today when police made three arrests at Killough, near Downpatrick, Co Down.