McCartney civil action may still not bring Robert's killers to justice

It is good news indeed that MEPs have overwhelmingly accepted a resolution expressing support for the family of Robert McCartney and condemning IRA violence and criminality.

This resolution means that it is now possible for the European Commission to offer financial aid to the McCartney family to pursue a civil action if the Police Service of Northern Ireland fails to bring charges in connection with Mr McCartney's killing.

The tenacity that Robert McCartney’s family have shown in seeking to bring his killers to justice has to be commended, but, will it be rewarded?

There are estimated to have been around 70 people in a Belfast bar on January 30th when Robert was brutally stabbed to death in a row with members of the IRA. There is at least one eye witness who has given a statement to the PSNI, and yet, no one has been charged with the crime.

Sinn Fein and the IRA have expelled those it believes are involved in the cover-up of the crime and police have taken statements from some of these people, and still no charges have been brought.

It is almost certainly easier to bring a civil action than a criminal one, but, what witnesses could McCartney’s family hope to call with so much intimidation of witnesses over the murder?

One would have to imagine that the family feel they could win a civil case following legal advice, but, how far have the families of the victims of the Omagh bombing got since they went down that route?

It should be beholden on the republican movement to ensure that Robert McCarteny’s killers are brought to proper justice and not the type of murder the Ira issues as justice. Is it likely? Unfortunately not.