Ten people arrested and questioned over the murder of Robert McCartney in Northern Ireland have exercised the right to silence about the attack, a senior PSNI investigator said today.
In a fresh appeal for information, Detective Superintendent George Hamilton also said some people who witnessed the killing are not coming forward with information because of fear about what might happen to them.
Det Sup George Hamilton
The murder of the father of two outside a Belfast bar has been blamed on the IRA, which has expelled three members following an internal investigation.
The Provisionals have also been accused by Mr McCartney's family of shielding the killers and intimidating witnesses from going to the police.
Det Supt Hamilton said the suspension of seven Sinn Féin members last night over allegations that they were involved was not his concern.
"Of the 10 people that have been arrested, they have exercised their legal right to remain silent and not to engage with us during the interview process," he confirmed.
"That means us as Serious Crime Branch in the Police Service of Northern Ireland relying heavily upon people who are witnesses to this murder to come forward and provide evidence to us.
"That is what we need. We need people to provide statements to the police in the first instance and then follow that through and be prepared to give that evidence to a judge in open court," he said.
"Those people also need to feel comfortable that having made those statements, that they can return to their own communities and live in their own homes in safety, without fear and without intimidation."
Det Supt Hamilton said police believed there were a number of people in Magennis's bar on the night of the killing who had yet to come forward with information.
"That may be because of lack of confidence, or for some other reason, in the Police Service of Northern Ireland," he said.
He said it was inconceivable that the 60 or 70 people who were in the bar on the night of the attack wouldn't have information which could help the investigation.
"I would appeal to them in the interests of justice and for the benefit of the McCartney family and for Robert McCartney, the victim in this case, to come forward and provide whatever evidence they have to the inquiry team," he said.
Det Supt Hamilton confirmed special protocols had been agreed with the office of Northern Ireland's Police Ombudsman, Nuala O'Loan, for her investigators to take statements.
Earlier, Mrs O'Loan said crucial witness statements to investigators in her office can be used in the trial of any men charged with the murder of Mr McCartney.
Det Supt Hamilton said he was unaware of information on the Sinn Féin members suspended from the party having been passed on to the Ombudsman from Gerry Adams following the Sinn Féin president's statement last night.
"Suspensions and expulsions from organisations and political parties is insufficient for the Police Service of Northern Ireland. . . . What we need is for people to feel free, to feel comfortable about providing evidence to the Police Service so that we can bring those responsible for this brutal murder to justice."
The PSNI has asked for members of the public to come forward if they were in Magennis's bar, May Street or Cromac Square between 10pm and 11pm on January 30th if they had not done so.
They also asked for the driver or passenger in a light-coloured four-door saloon car, possibly a Mercedes, parked outside St George's Market between 10.40pm and 11pm to come forward. People were also asked to help identify the vehicle.
Detectives also want information about the owner of a beige and white jumper that was found on a building site close by in Market Street.
PA