Free Republic

BELFAST (Reuters) - The IRA admitted on Friday to the 1973 killing of a teenage girl that it had blamed on the British army and apologised to her family who had called on the paramilitaries to accept responsibility. Kathleen Feeney was shot dead near her home in Londonderry. At the time, the IRA, which put its violent, 30-year campaign against British rule on hold in 1997, blamed British soldiers for the 14-year-old's murder. "We wish to apologise unreservedly to the Feeney family for the death of Kathleen and all the grief that our actions have caused to them," the IRA...

Two arrested over murder of Robert McCartney TWO men have been arrested in connection with the murder of Belfast father-of-two Robert McCartney, police said today. The men, aged 36 and 49, were arrested following police operations in Belfast and Birmingham. Mr McCartney, 33, died after he was attacked outside Magennis's Bar in Belfast city centre on January 30. His sister, Catherine McCartney, welcomed the news. She said: "We obviously welcome these arrests but remain cautious. People have been arrested before and let out. Others have walked into police stations, stared at walls and said nothing." The IRA expelled three members...

Tuesday, 10th May, 2005 Euro MPs will today back the McCartney sisters' fight for justice over the murder of their brother Robert. A resolution due to be approved in Strasbourg calls for the unprecedented use of EU anti-terror funds to finance a civil legal action if Northern Ireland police fail to bring a criminal prosecution. Mr McCartney was stabbed and beaten to death after a row in a Belfast bar on January 30th. Last night, MEPs condemned Sinn Féin and accused the "self-styled Irish Republic Army" of creating a climate of fear that has prevented potential witnesses from coming forward....

A man (35) is to be charged later this month with murdering 29 people who died in the Omagh bomb massacre, the Northern Ireland High Court was told today. Papers are to be served on Sean Gerard Hoey who is already in custody accused of a series of paramilitary offences. Although it was reported police are set to bring charges against him over the worst single atrocity in Northern Ireland, his defence said today that had not yet happened. But a Crown barrister disclosed the wheels were in motion during an adjourned bail application at the High Court in Belfast....