Posted on 06/03/2005 3:16:00 PM PDT by prairiebreeze
BELFAST, Northern Ireland - A Belfast man was charged Friday in the IRA-linked knife slaying of a Catholic man outside a pub earlier this year, the first breakthrough in a case that has overshadowed Northern Ireland's peace process for months.
A 49-year-old man will face a charge of murdering Robert McCartney, while a 36-year-old man will be charged with the attempted murder of his friend Brendan Devine, who was seriously wounded in the Jan. 30 attack, police said. The arraignment was set for Saturday in Belfast Crown Court.
McCartney's sisters - who have taken their campaign to the White House and the European Parliament - said they were stunned by the news but emphasized that their mission for justice still had a long way to go.
"We hope it will lead to further arrests, because there were more than two people involved. We still have a long way to go in terms of a trial and convictions," said Catherine McCartney. "We are happy this has happened, but we know it is by no means over."
The Irish Republican Army initially denied involvement, then admitted its members committed the attack after facing public pressure from McCartney's five sisters and fiancee.
Since then members of the IRA and its allied Sinn Fein party have faced criticism internationally for allegedly covering up evidence and refusing to cooperate with the police investigation.
The two men, who were arrested Wednesday, are the first to face charges in the case. They were among a dozen suspects detained previously and released without charge after refusing to answer questions.
Witnesses say an IRA unit initially attacked Devine inside the pub, then targeted McCartney when he pulled his friend, bleeding from a neck wound, outside. The gang stabbed McCartney in the neck and stomach and clubbed him...
(Excerpt) Read more at kansascity.com ...
Some people will stop at nothing to keep their tax-free retirement accounts...
The Kennedy supported IRA terrorists? I thought Clinton turned them into peace loving citizens. I guess that didn't work either.
Now, you made me do a double-take there, LOL!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.