25.2.05
BBC
**It's not enough
IRA expel three over city killing
Robert McCartney, 33, was killed near Belfast city centre
The IRA has said it has expelled three members from its ranks over the death of Robert McCartney in Belfast, Irish state broadcaster RTE has said.
It comes after what they called "an investigation" into last month's killing.
The IRA said one of those expelled had made a statement to a solicitor and called on the other two to take responsibility for their actions.
Robert McCartney, 33, was stabbed in the city centre on 30 January.
The IRA statement comes 24 hours after Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams met the McCartney family.
The family had accused republicans of pressuring witnesses not to talk, although they welcomed an earlier IRA statement urging his killers to come forward.
'Support for campaign'
Mr Adams described the meeting as "constructive". "There is an onus on us to do everything we can to bring closure to this family," he said.
He added that those responsible for Mr McCartney's death should be brought to justice.
Mr Adams said that he was told up to 70 people, and up to 21 this week, had already come forward with information about his death.
The meeting took place on Thursday.
Mr Adams was speaking in Dublin at the launch of a campaign to urge the Irish government to prepare a discussion document on Irish unity.
Earlier this week, the McCartney family met with Irish Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern and Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny in a bid to win support for their campaign to find those responsible for his murder.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said that a test of Sinn Fein's stated opposition to criminality would be to turn in the killers. "Paramilitarism is 'far worse' than a bank raid", said Bertie Ahern.
No-one has been charged in connection with the killing, although it is believed there were up to 70 witnesses to the crime.
**It's not enough
IRA expel three over city killing
Robert McCartney, 33, was killed near Belfast city centre
The IRA has said it has expelled three members from its ranks over the death of Robert McCartney in Belfast, Irish state broadcaster RTE has said.
It comes after what they called "an investigation" into last month's killing.
The IRA said one of those expelled had made a statement to a solicitor and called on the other two to take responsibility for their actions.
Robert McCartney, 33, was stabbed in the city centre on 30 January.
The IRA statement comes 24 hours after Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams met the McCartney family.
The family had accused republicans of pressuring witnesses not to talk, although they welcomed an earlier IRA statement urging his killers to come forward.
'Support for campaign'
Mr Adams described the meeting as "constructive". "There is an onus on us to do everything we can to bring closure to this family," he said.
He added that those responsible for Mr McCartney's death should be brought to justice.
Mr Adams said that he was told up to 70 people, and up to 21 this week, had already come forward with information about his death.
The meeting took place on Thursday.
Mr Adams was speaking in Dublin at the launch of a campaign to urge the Irish government to prepare a discussion document on Irish unity.
Earlier this week, the McCartney family met with Irish Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern and Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny in a bid to win support for their campaign to find those responsible for his murder.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said that a test of Sinn Fein's stated opposition to criminality would be to turn in the killers. "Paramilitarism is 'far worse' than a bank raid", said Bertie Ahern.
No-one has been charged in connection with the killing, although it is believed there were up to 70 witnesses to the crime.
