23.2.05
BBC
McCartney family to meet minister
Robert McCartney, 33, was killed near Belfast city centre
The family of a Belfast murder victim is to lobby Irish politicians in a bid to win support for their campaign to bring his killers to justice.
Robert McCartney, 33, was stabbed in the city centre on 30 January.
His relatives will travel to the Irish parliament in Dublin later to meet with politicans, including the Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern.
They also intend to hold talks with Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny in Belfast on Thursday.
No-one has been charged in connection with his killing, although it is believed there were up to 70 witnesses to the crime.
Speaking before the meeting, Mr Ahern paid tribute to the McCartney family.
'Leadership'
"It is a testimony of the courage of the McCartney family that they have gone so public in relation to this in difficult circumstances, not least the trauma of losing a loved one."
He also called for the nationalist community to aid the police inquiry in any way it could.
Earlier this week, Mr McCartney's sister Paula said she was considering standing for election to Belfast city's council in May.
She said her family would do anything to bring her brother's killers to justice.
The McCartney family has accused republicans of pressurising witnesses not to talk to the police, although they have welcomed an IRA statement urging Robert's killers to take responsibility for their actions.
The statement, which denied any IRA involvement in Mr McCartney's murder, said no-one should hinder his family "in their search for truth and justice".
Meanwhile, Sinn Fein justice spokesman Gerry Kelly has said people with "reservations" about the PSNI must be allowed to help the McCartney family.
"I would like to see the family getting justice in this, and the people who were involved in this brutal slaying should be rejected entirely by the community... and brought to justice," he said.
A man arrested in connection with the killing was released without charge by police last week.
McCartney family to meet minister
Robert McCartney, 33, was killed near Belfast city centre
The family of a Belfast murder victim is to lobby Irish politicians in a bid to win support for their campaign to bring his killers to justice.
Robert McCartney, 33, was stabbed in the city centre on 30 January.
His relatives will travel to the Irish parliament in Dublin later to meet with politicans, including the Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern.
They also intend to hold talks with Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny in Belfast on Thursday.
No-one has been charged in connection with his killing, although it is believed there were up to 70 witnesses to the crime.
Speaking before the meeting, Mr Ahern paid tribute to the McCartney family.
'Leadership'
"It is a testimony of the courage of the McCartney family that they have gone so public in relation to this in difficult circumstances, not least the trauma of losing a loved one."
He also called for the nationalist community to aid the police inquiry in any way it could.
Earlier this week, Mr McCartney's sister Paula said she was considering standing for election to Belfast city's council in May.
She said her family would do anything to bring her brother's killers to justice.
The McCartney family has accused republicans of pressurising witnesses not to talk to the police, although they have welcomed an IRA statement urging Robert's killers to take responsibility for their actions.
The statement, which denied any IRA involvement in Mr McCartney's murder, said no-one should hinder his family "in their search for truth and justice".
Meanwhile, Sinn Fein justice spokesman Gerry Kelly has said people with "reservations" about the PSNI must be allowed to help the McCartney family.
"I would like to see the family getting justice in this, and the people who were involved in this brutal slaying should be rejected entirely by the community... and brought to justice," he said.
A man arrested in connection with the killing was released without charge by police last week.
