12 May 2005 Edition

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SF MEPs support GUE/NGL resolution on McCartney

Sinn Féin MEPs Bairbre de Brún and Mary Lou McDonald on Tuesday supported a GUE/NGL resolution in the European Parliament supporting the McCartney family's campaign for justice. That motion was rejected by the parliament, which backed a motion on the issue that Sinn Féin could not support. The Sinn Féin MEPs abstained on the motion that was passed, which decided to allocate EU funds to the McCartneys to take a civil action should the PSNI criminal investigation not result in charges.

Speaking from the European Parliament in Strasbourg, de Brún made the party's position clear:

"Sinn Féin supports the McCartney family's demand for those responsible for Robert's murder to face trial and we will continue to do all that we can to help them.

"Our party has met with the McCartney family a number of times. I met them when they visited the Parliament in Brussels a few weeks ago. I have pledged them my support and the support of this party.

"Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams has called on those responsible to come forward and admit their responsibility for this horrendous murder. They have refused.

"He also called on everyone who was in the vicinity of Maginnis's bar to provide full and frank statements.

"Because we take this matter so seriously, eleven members of our party who were in the bar on that night and one who later arrived on the scene, were suspended without prejudice. This has been done to establish whether or not they complied with the call by party leaders for everyone to provide a full and frank statement.

"Two members were expelled for refusing to follow this instruction and four others resigned. The other six remain suspended, pending a report to our party's National Executive.

"As a Sinn Féin MEP and as an individual I could not campaign for the victims of British or unionist paramilitary thuggery, if I was not as clear and as committed to justice for the McCartney family.

"Those responsible for the brutal killing of Robert McCartney should admit to what they did in a court of law. That is the only decent thing for them to do. Others with any information should come forward. It is our belief that the PSNI could and should have acted by now. They have not carried out a thorough investigation."


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