REACTION:THE McCARTNEY sisters have queried why only two witnesses who were in Magennis's Bar in central Belfast when Robert McCartney was murdered came forward to provide relevant evidence when there were up to 70 people in the bar that night.
They blamed Sinn Féin and the IRA for the failure to convict anyone of the murder of their brother, who died after he was attacked outside the bar on January 31st, 2005 - a charge that Sinn Féin again denied last night.
The McCartneys, who believe up to 15 people were involved in the murder, pledged they would continue their Justice for Robert campaign after three men charged in connection with McCartney's murder - including Terence Davison, the only one of the three charged with murder - were acquitted at Belfast Crown Court yesterday.
Mr Justice John Gillen pointed to flaws and inconsistencies in the evidence from the three main witnesses - two from the bar and a passing motorist - for his decision to acquit the defendants.
"It is not over," said Catherine McCartney outside the court yesterday. She said the family was continuing to evaluate whether it would be feasible to take a civil case against those they believe killed their brother.
The judge, the PSNI and the McCartneys praised the "courage and honesty" of Witness C, a passing motorist who saw the attack on Mr McCartney.
Giving her evidence behind a screen, she identified Mr Davison as Mr McCartney's assailant. Mr Justice Gillen ruled that there were "frailties" in her evidence.
Ms McCartney said that, while Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams had urged co-operation with the police, the only witnesses whose evidence could be regarded as useful were Brendan Devine and Ed Gowdy, two friends of Mr McCartney who were in Magennis's that night. The judge found their evidence "fundamentally flawed".
Ms McCartney said there were up to 70 people in the bar, some of whom sterilised the bar after the attack to destroy evidence. Many of the 70 were in a position to give evidence, she said. "The evidence is there; the problem is getting people who saw Robert's murder providing that evidence to the court," she added.
"Until those witnesses feel comfortable that Sinn Féin and the IRA are genuine, they will not come forward."
She continued: "The blame for the lack of justice lies firmly at the feet of Sinn Féin and the IRA who from day one have obstructed and perverted the course of justice and continue to do so."
Ms McCartney was disappointed but not surprised at the verdict. "We have to be honest: would I have put someone away based on that evidence? No. I can't expect the judiciary to do so."
Her sister, Paula, added that people were afraid to tell the truth. "We know who killed our brother," she said.
A Sinn Féin spokesman said: "Sinn Féin has supported and co-operated with the McCartney campaign, and will continue to do so. This is not a political matter; it is a criminal matter, and Sinn Féin is not in a position to investigate crime."
SDLP MP for South Belfast, Dr Alasdair McDonnell, said the calls for co-operation had been hollow.
"There must now be full co-operation with the investigating authorities and full disclosure of relevant information. Half-truths, half- stories and half-cocked explanations will no longer suffice. Justice calls for it. Decency demands it."
Det Supt Kevin Dunwoody said he was "sorry" the police had not secured a conviction.
"It certainly was not for a lack of effort on our part. Those who did not co-operate with us and those who worked to frustrate and thwart our investigation can answer for themselves," he said.
"During this case, some brave people came forward and gave evidence. Others, who had information that would have helped bring the killers to justice, held on to what they knew. They need to look to their own consciences today."