McCartney sisters take justice campaign to Europe
Three of Belfast murder victim Robert McCartney’s sisters are taking their campaign for justice to Brussels tomorrow.
Catherine, Paula and Gemma McCartney are spending the day in talks with Euro-MPs and meeting the President of the European Parliament Josep Borrell and his European Commission counterpart Jose Manuel Barroso.
The trip follows a high profile St Patrick’s day visit to Washington which included a meeting with President George Bush. But so far there have been no charges arising from the stabbing of 33-year old brother Robert in Belfast city centre on January 30.
The murder has however triggered the suspension of seven Sinn Fein members and the expulsion by the IRA of three of its members.
A dozen men have been questioned by police and released without charge, including a 31-year old man who handed himself in at a police station with his solicitor on Monday.
The Brussels meetings are unlikely to improve results, but the McCartney sisters are determined to keep the case in the headlines and talk to European politicians on all sides and from all EU countries about possible help from Brussels.
Gary Titley, leader of the UK’s Labour MEPs, who will be meeting the sisters, said:
“I applaud the courage of Robert McCartney’s sisters. We can no longer allow political progress to a lasting peace to be compromised by gangsterism.
“It is critical to keep Robert McCartney’s case high on the public and political agenda.
“Justice for Robert McCartney needs to be done. And it needs to be seen to be done under due democratic and judicial process for the future of the peace process.
“I am confident that the bravery of Robert McCartney’s family will lead to a lasting peace in Northern Ireland.”
