I
want to first openly state that I am an Irish republican
and I have researched the Mc Cartney murder and
the reactions, allegations and so on in the aftermath
of the murder of Robert Mc Cartney. I would also
like to genuinely give deepest condolences to Robert’s
fiancée, two sons, five sisters and the wider
family on this brutal murder which took Robert so
cruelly away from them. I would also like to stress
that I fully support and embrace the family’s
struggle for Justice.
The
first issue I want to confront is the allegations
of IRA or/and Sinn Fein involvement in the murder.
It is without doubt that Robert Mc Cartney was murdered
by members of the IRA but what is crucial and is
often left out of media reports is that they were
never acting under any orders from the IRA but as
selfish individuals who exploited their positions
as members of this organisation and used the name
of the IRA to murder Robert, carry out a clean up
operation and spread extreme fear among those who
may be crucial witnesses the events leading up to
the murder, and the murder itself of this innocent
man. So it is clear that no member of the IRA who
was on active service was involved in the murder
and the IRA as an organisation was not involved.
In relation to the Sinn Fein members I understand
that they have been suspended because they were
in the bar and may possibly have witnessed events
that could be crucial in bringing about Justice
for Robert but they have never even been accused
of being actually involved in the altercations.
To put in to reports of an “IRA murder”
into context is it fair to say that if a number
of PSNI officers who were off duty were involved
in a fight and murdered a man that the PSNI killed
this man? Of course not.
Another
problem in the aftermath of the murder is the way
that opponents of Sinn Fein or/and used the murder
as a political football and possibly exploiting
the situation or indeed the family’s campaign
for justice. There were allegations of a republican
ex-prisoner of being the leader of the campaign
and the real brain of the campaign however I have
no evidence to prove this to be the case but it
is clear that this man’s online journal has
been the place where much information has originated
from and indeed where the Mc Cartney family members
have expressed their views but whether or not “Mr
Blanket” is the head of the campaign remains
to be seen.
The
sisters of Robert Mc Cartney may have been subject
to harsh words within the public at times in that
people may be saying “I’m sick of them”
or the sorts but it is wrong to say this as anyone
has the right to do whatever they can to receive
justice for a murdered loved one. What is wrong
however is the way in which the Mc Cartneys may
have at times used the murder of their brother to
bring into disrepute Irish republicanism in general.
I have heard the sisters say many a time how “it
is not in our interests to damage the republican
movement” but before they flew out to the USA
one of the sisters told the media how “we are
going out to America to take away any romantic view
of the republican struggle the American people may
have.” That is the only thing that has ever
caused annoyance to me and indeed many republicans
about the Mc Cartney sisters and their campaign
for Justice.
The
campaign for Justice is totally legitimate and the
family of Robert Mc Cartney have every right to
do anything they think may progress their campaign
for Justice but it is wrong for anyone to use the
murder to ‘IRA bash’ or ‘Sinn Fein
bash.’
The
struggle for the Mc Cartney family and indeed the
wider community who want justice for this innocent
victim of butchery should not be one against the
republican movement but one against the individuals
who carried out the murder, and the family and indeed
many people say they know the identities of the
murderers. Any intimidation before the murder or
indeed now in the campaign for justice is quite
frankly sickening and should be condemned by everyone,
in particular the disgraceful insults received by
the women giving out leaflets last night (13/04/2005).
It is ridiculous for anyone to suggest that there
has been intimidation or threats coming from the
Mc Cartney side as it would simply not be in their
interests and it is this sort of crime that the
family are campaigning against.
The
reality is that political policing has occurred
and this is disgraceful yet there was no big deal
made over this. A top suspect wanting to be questioned
presented himself to a PSNI station a number of
weeks back and was basically told to go away and
come back, this is totally unacceptable and shows
how the PSNI wanted to exploit the situation to
damage the republican movement.
The
Justice for Robert campaign must continue until
these criminals who took away the life of a young
innocent father are put behind bars where they belong
and the wider community gets a sense of justice.
The bravery and persistence of the Mc Cartney family
must be applauded and their campaign is not just
for them but a campaign for the whole community
as everyone deserves to see justice in the after
math of a crime against not only Robert Mc Cartney,
the Short Strand and wider Belfast community.
