Man Charged in IRA-Linked Belfast Killing
A 49-year-old Belfast man was charged Friday with murder in the Jan. 30 death of Robert McCartney, a Catholic stabbed outside a pub where Irish Republican Army members were gathered.
A 36-year-old man was charged with the attempted murder of McCartney’s friend Brendan Devine, who was seriously wounded, police said. The names of the men will be released at their arraignment, scheduled for today.
McCartney’s sisters have taken their campaign for justice in the case to the White House and the European Parliament.
“We hope it will lead to further arrests, because there were more than two people involved. We still have a long way to go in terms of a trial and convictions,” said Catherine McCartney. “We are happy this has happened, but we know it is by no means over.”
The Irish Republican Army initially denied involvement in the attack, but after facing public pressure, admitted that members were responsible.
Since then, members of the IRA and the allied Sinn Fein political party have faced criticism for allegedly covering up evidence and refusing to cooperate with the police investigation.
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