The trial of a man charged with the murder of Robert McCartney is to open in Belfast tomorrow.
Terence Davison, (51) will appear at Belfast Crown Court on a charge of murder and of making an affray in relation to the death of the forklift truck driver outside Magennis’s Bar on January 30th, 2005.
Robert McCartney's murder took place at a pivotal time in the Northern Irish peace process
Two other men, James McCormick(39) and Joseph Fitzpatrick (47), are charged with making an affray while Fitzpatrick is also accused of assaulting another man, Edward Gowdy, on the same date.
Robert McCartney, who was set to marry fiancee Bridgeen Hagans later that year, died after being beaten and stabbed outside the city centre pub following an argument inside which spiralled out of control.
His friend Brendan Devine, who he'd been socialising with throughout that day, sustained severe injuries in the same incident.
The murder was a pivotal time in the Northern Ireland peace process and the IRA as an organisation was faced with allegations of involvement not only in the murder but also in attempts to hinder the subsequent police investigation.
PA