McCartney family happy with police efforts
The family of murdered Belfast man Robert McCartney today said they had confidence in the PSNI investigation into his death.
Speaking after a meeting in Dublin with the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Paula McCartney said they completely disagreed with Sinn Féin chief negotiator Martin McGuinness’ comments that the PSNI were not charging anyone to maintain the political pressure on republicans.
“We know that people have told police some information but what is actually happening is they’re being told what to say and what not to say, so the full picture is not emerging,” she said.
“I don’t believe that the PSNI haven’t been proactive.
“What has to be remembered here is there was a forensic clean-up, there was intimidation of witnesses, and given all these facts, we can see why the process is so slow.”
She said that the reason the people Mr McGuinness believed could be charged were not saying what they had done was because they wanted “to go down as Irish volunteers and not psychopaths”.
She also said that the family did not believe their campaign was affected by Gerry Adams’s call last week for the IRA to follow a political and democratic path.
“Our campaign has never been about disbanding the IRA, it’s not in our interests to do that.
“Our only interest is for the murderers of Robert to be delivered,” Paula said.
She said the family was “very encouraged and reassured” following their meeting with the Taoiseach.
“We just asked him to make a commitment that this will be an issue, that he personally will not rest until it is resolved and I think he assured us about that.”
The family vowed to carry on the fight for justice for Robert with a rally in Dublin and a vigil outside the pub where he was killed in Belfast.
“It’s never entered our heads to give up, we’ll never give up until these people are brought to justice,” Paula said.
Paula was joined by her sister Claire and Robert’s partner Bridgeen Hagans for the meeting with the Taoiseach at Government Buildings.
