Two people have been expelled by Sinn Féin in connection with the murder of Short Strand father of two Robert McCartney.
The two party members were understood to be among those suspended from Sinn Féin last month. Four others who were suspended at the time are also understood to have resigned following their decision not to make statements about the killing to the PSNI or to an intermediary.
The McCartney family is continuing to press republicans for information about who was in Magennis's pub in central Belfast on the night of January 30th, the date of the murder.
They allege that both Sinn Féin and the IRA are maintaining a "wall of silence" concerning the stabbing of their brother.
The expulsions and resignations follow a decision by the IRA in February to expel three of its members over the murder.
The IRA said at the time that one of those expelled made a statement to a solicitor and called on the others to take responsibility. Two of the men dismissed were described by the IRA as "high-ranking volunteers".
Speaking at the Sinn Féin ardfheis in Dublin last month, Martin McGuinness said those involved in the murder had to admit their role.
"I am both outraged and saddened at the involvement of a small number of IRA volunteers in the brutal killing of Robert McCartney," he said.
Meanwhile, three men arrested yesterday in connection with protracted interface trouble in the Short Strand area of east Belfast in 2002 have been released without charge. The suspects were questioned about five alleged attempted murders linked to rioting in the loyalist Cluan Place area in June 2002.