McCartney family threatened by ‘criminal elements’

The family of murdered Belfast man Robert McCartney have blamed republicans for threatening to burn them out of their homes and businesses.

The family were warned of threats by “criminal elements” by the PSNI shortly after returning home to Northern Ireland from Strasbourg, where they had been lobbying MEP’s to help fund a civil case against those they believe to have been behind Mr McCartney’s murder.

Catherine McCartney, one of Robert's sisters, said the family believed the threats had come from within the republican movement.

“For the past three months, we have been asking the republican movement to stop protecting the criminals who murdered Robert that night," she said.

"And now today after our campaign, we get a threat saying our houses are going to be burned down.

"I'm not frightened for myself personally but I have four children here from 13-years-old down, so I have to take it seriously for them."

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams immediately condemned “unequivocally and without qualification or reservation” any threats made against the McCartney family.

The West Belfast MP said: “I am confident that there are no threats to this family from republicans.

“The recent election results were a clear endorsement of Sinn Féin’s stand in support of the family and we remain totally behind their objective of having the men responsible for the murder of Robert McCartney brought to court and held to account for their actions.”

The 33-year-old father-of-two died after he was stabbed following a row in a Belfast bar.

The IRA has been blamed for the murder as well as interfering with evidence and witnesses by the McCartney family.

(MB)