Justice award for McCartney sisters
The fight for justice by the sisters and partner of murdered Belfast man Robert McCartney helped force the IRA to finally end its armed campaign, it was claimed today.
January’s fatal stabbing of the father of two by alleged IRA members caused public outrage and plunged the Northern Ireland peace process into a deep crisis.
A public campaign by sisters Claire, Donna, Catherine, Paula and Gemma as well as Mr McCartney’s partner Bridgeen Hagans won widespread political support in Dublin, London, Brussels and Washington.
The women will receive the inaugural Michael Davitt Justice Award today at the Humbert Summer School in Co Mayo.
School director John Cooney said he believed the courage and resilience of the women finally persuaded the IRA to dump its arms for good.
“Everybody was hugely impressed by the strength of the McCartney women in the face of IRA intimidation, and it served as a wake-up call for republicans,” he said.
"I believe their campaign contributed to the IRA’s historic statement at the end of July."
The IRA’s July 28 statement called on volunteers to dump all arms and pursue a political and democratic path.
The 19th annual summer school in Ballina commemorates French republican General Jean Joseph Humbert and Irish Land League founder Michael Davitt.
