Outrage over IRA offer to shoot murderers
An IRA offer to shoot the men in their ranks blamed for the murder of Belfast man Robert McCartney has prompted outrage in the North.
Politicians in Belfast, Dublin and London criticised the republicans, saying they had shown themselves in their true light.
The IRA said in a public statement last night that they had told the family of Mr McCartney they were prepared to shoot those directly involved in the murder after carrying out an internal investigation.
The republican movement, both the IRA and Sinn Féin, has been in crisis since father-of-two Mr McCartney was stabbed to death after a row in a Belfast bar at the end of January.
His sisters mounted a campaign accusing IRA members of being responsible for the murder, covering it up and intimidating witnesses.
The IRA initially said it had expelled three members from its ranks for involvement in the killing.
But they went further last night saying that during a five-and-a-half hour meeting with the McCartneys, they expressed their willingness to shoot the offenders.
“The IRA representative detailed the outcome of the internal disciplinary proceedings thus far and stated in clear terms that the IRA was prepared to shoot people directly involved in the killing of Robert McCartney,” said the IRA statement.
It added: “The family made it clear that they did not want physical action taken against those involved. They stated they wanted those individuals to give full account of their actions in court.”
No one has yet been charged with the January 30 murder but as well as the three IRA members thrown out by their terrorist bosses, seven members of Sinn Féin have been suspended.
Justice Minister Michael McDowell described the IRA statement as bizarre and said it confirmed suspicions the provisional movement was in free-fall.
Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy said he was appalled at the IRA statement.
“Any sort of punishment ought to come from the courts, through the due process of the law. There is no place for arbitrary justice. There is no place for kangaroo courts or capital punishment in this country,” he said.
Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary David Lidington said: “Northern Ireland needs the rule of law, not the rule of the gang.”
Democratic Unionist Party leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, said the IRA had shown its true colours.
“It is their declared intent to murder. The Sinn Féin/IRA machine has murdered and maimed the citizens of Northern Ireland for 35 years.”
Senior Ulster Unionist Assembly member Reg Empey said he was appalled at the statement which showed the IRA had learned nothing in the weeks since Mr McCartney’s murder.
“The fact that this group is offering to murder as a form of justice should be the wake-up call that the governments urgently need.”
