http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/03/09/nira09.xml
Fury at IRA offer to shoot McCartney's murderers
By Thomas Harding, Ireland Correspondent
(Filed: 09/03/2005)
The IRA offered to shoot the murderers of Robert McCartney during a
meeting with his fianc�e and sisters, the terrorist group said in a
statement last night.
The Provisionals, the statement said, stated in clear terms to the
family "that the IRA was prepared to shoot the people directly
involved in the killing of Robert McCartney".
Robert McCartney
The McCartney family turned down the offer, saying they wanted justice
to be carried out in the courts.
Politicians across the spectrum rounded on the IRA, condemning the
proposal as "gun law at its worst".
Eddie McGrady, an MP for the moderate nationalist SDLP, said: "This
appalling proposal is an extremely dangerous slide into anarchy and is
a threat to the entire community of Northern Ireland.
"It is a gross affront to all standards of decency, justice and the law."
Paul Murphy, the Northern Ireland Secretary, said he was appalled by
the statement.
"Any sort of punishment ought to come through the courts, through due
process of the law. There is no place for arbitrary justice, there is
no place for kangaroo courts or capital punishment in this country,"
he added.
Sir Reg Empey, a senior Ulster Unionist, said it was an "appalling
statement from an organisation that has clearly learned nothing in
recent weeks. It is a sick and desperate move". Michael McDowell, the
Irish justice minister, said the statement was bizarre and confirmed
suspicions that the Provisional movement was in freefall.
In a briefing to reporters, he said: "It's the first time that I have
seen them admit to a willingness to kill.
"Their denials of punishment beatings and bank robberies just go out
the window after this. It just shows how deep their crisis is. It
signifies a serious freefall within the Provisional movement.
"It's bizarre. It's astonishing. What are these people thinking? What
kind of a world are these people living in? They're clearly in a very
strange place."
The IRA said it had ordered the murder suspects to "come forward",
hinting that it would allow courts to be used in an unprecedented
move, having previously refused to recognise the British judicial system.
With the IRA appearing to clear the way to allow witnesses to give
evidence, it is hoped that the police investigation will progress and
that charges will be brought.
In a statement released to BBC Northern Ireland, the IRA said it had
had two meetings with the McCartney family, including one that lasted
more than five hours.
After taking accounts from those involved, the IRA said just four
people took part in the murder, although the family believes it was at
least 12 members. An argument started in the bar following a dispute
between Mr McCartney's friend Brendan Devine, and the IRA's Belfast
commander. Mr McCartney tried to intervene to save his friend after he
was assaulted.
One man provided the knife from the kitchen at Magennis's bar, the
statement continued, and another Provisional used it to stab Mr Devine
and kill Mr McCartney.
A third man kicked and beat Mr McCartney after he had been stabbed
while a fourth struck out with a steel bar, the statement said.
The statement said that only two of the men involved were IRA
"volunteers" although three Provisionals were expelled from the
organisation last month following "internal disciplinary proceedings".
"We have urged any witnesses who can assist in any way to come
forward," the IRA said, adding that its only interest was "to see
truth and justice achieved".
The names of those involved had been given to the McCartneys but were
not published.
The IRA's move is proof that Sinn Fein, its political wing, is on the
back foot as never before following the �26 million Northern Bank
robbery, alleged money laundering and other criminality.
The White House is likely to confirm this week that the five McCartney
sisters will be invited for talks with the Bush administration during
the St Patrick's Day celebrations in Washington.
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