Orde hits back at Sinn Féin's McCartney claims
The North's most senior policeman Hugh Orde today hit back at claims that the investigation into the murder of Belfast father of two Robert McCartney is being manipulated to damage Sinn Féin.
As Mr McCartney’s five sisters and his partner prepared to present a dossier on his murder to US President George W Bush today at the White House, Chief Constable Hugh Orde defended his officers’ handling of the probe.
Sinn Féin’s chief negotiator Martin McGuinness has accused police of turning away two key witnesses who had offered themselves for interview about the attack on Mr McCartney, and serious wounding of his friend Brendan Devine, outside a bar in Belfast city centre on January 30.
The Mid Ulster MP accused the Police Service of Northern Ireland of seeking to damage Sinn Féin rather than pursue justice.
Gerry Adams also raised questions last night about the investigation after a meeting with President Bush’s adviser on Northern Ireland, Ambassador Mitchell Reiss, in Washington.
The Sinn Féin leader said: “I have asked why there has been no identity parade, why, when a key witness came forward on Monday, he was told there was nobody there to interview him, and why another key suspect was told the same thing?”
“I can’t imagine another situation where, if there was a high profile murder like this one, a chief suspect would come forward and be told to come back another day.”
However Mr Orde insisted his officers were focusing on building up evidence for a case.
“I think the public understand the difference between intelligence and evidence,” he told BBC Radio Ulster.
“I think the public are ahead of us on this. They know very well that we need a case to put to people.
“There is no point bringing someone in who then, quite properly, if a suspect exercises their right to silence and says nothing. That does not develop the case.
“We know. We are the professionals. Not Sinn Féin. Not Provisional IRA. We know how to investigate crime and we are doing it very well.”
Mr McCartney’s five sisters Gemma, Donna, Paula, Claire and Catherine, and his partner Bridgeen Hagans, are concerned at the lack of information coming from witnesses to a row in Magennis’s bar which led to the attack on the forklift driver.
About 70 witnesses, including former Sinn Féin Assembly election candidate Cora Croogan, local government candidate Deirdre Hegney and ex-councillor Sean Hayes, were in the bar.
However police have noted some witnesses have simply said they saw nothing and others have not come forward with information because of intimidation.
Senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent George Hamilton has also confirmed those arrested, questioned about the murder and later released have simply exercised their right to silence during interrogation.
The IRA expelled three members of the organisation following an internal investigation into the murder.
The IRA also offered the McCartney family to have those responsible shot, but that was declined.
Gerry Adams suspended seven Sinn Féin members over allegations that they were involved and passed their names on to the North's Police Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan, who has offered her investigators’ help to the police.
The offer was made because it is believed Sinn Féin’s refusal to endorse the PSNI is making witnesses reluctant to help the police investigation.
The party has suggested witnesses should make statements to solicitors or the Police Ombudsman.
The McCartneys have, however, insisted only the PSNI and the Police Ombudsman have the necessary skills to take statements which would build a case in court.
The family yesterday met senior US politicians including Senators Hillary Clinton, Edward Kennedy and John McCain.
They will attend today’s St Patrick’s Day reception in the White House involving Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy.
Gerry Adams and other political leaders in the North have been excluded from the event.
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