Sinn Fein tells killers to own up

The McCartney sisters of Belfast, whose brother Robert was recently killed by republicans, made a dramatic appearance at Sinn Fein's annual conference in Dublin yesterday.

More than 1000 republicans gave the five sisters a standing ovation and repeatedly applauded them after they were escorted into the hall by the president of Sinn Fein, Gerry Adams, Martin McGuinness and other party leaders.

As part of a strong show of sympathy, Adams sat with the sisters who have been critical of both Sinn Fein and the IRA in the wake of the killing of their brother. They then listened to his address before leaving hurriedly and without ceremony. The unusual event was broadcast live on RTE, Irish state television.

Adams used strong rhetoric in his speech, declaring: "His murder was dreadful, not only because of the way he died and not only because it robbed his family of a father, a partner, a brother, a son. His murder was dreadful because it is alleged some republicans were involved in it. That makes this a huge issue for us.

"As president of Sinn Fein or as an individual I could not campaign for the victims of British or unionist paramilitary thuggery, if I was not as clear and as committed to justice for the McCartney family."

He added: "Those responsible for the brutal killing of Robert McCartney should admit to what they did in a court of law ... Others with any information should come forward. I am not letting this issue go until those who have sullied the republican cause are made to account for their actions."

Robert McCartney was stabbed to death in a backstreet following an altercation with republicans which began in a Belfast city-centre bar.

This has had a striking effect on republican popularity ratings, with a recent poll showing approval ratings for Adams dropping from 50 to 30 per cent. Some of this is due to the fact that most people blame the IRA for December's 26 million ($68 million) Northern Bank robbery in Belfast, which was followed by swoops on a large-scale IRA money-laundering operation in County Cork. But most of the ratings fall is attributed to the McCartney killing.

In the aftermath the IRA expelled three members. One of these, the individual who is believed to have stabbed McCartney, is being sought by police but has gone missing and is presumed to be on the run.

Republican sources say their information is that he does not intend to come forward and provide statements on what happened during the incident, as Adams has asked republicans to do.

Adams, meanwhile, announced that seven members of Sinn Fein were being suspended, adding that he had instructed a solicitor to send their names to the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman. According to reliable sources, the Ombudsman has received the names and has passed them on to the police.

A number of republicans have previously been arrested and questioned, but gave only perfunctory statements and would not answer questions from detectives. According to one security source: "They just sat and stared at the wall for an hour."

While this was once standard republican anti-interrogation drill, it is clearly not what Adams had envisaged when he called for information to be offered.

The Sinn Fein president's action in passing information to the police, even by this indirect route, is known to have caused some unease within a movement which has traditionally regarded the police as deadly enemies.

Others appear to recognise, however, that the damage inflicted by the McCartney affair has been so great that extraordinary actions were required on the part of Sinn Fein.

- INDEPENDENT