The killers of Robert McCartney should do the patriotic and honourable thing by handing themselves in, his family told a rally in Belfast today.
The sisters of Mr McCartney, who was beaten and stabbed last month during a brawl in a Belfast bar in an attack blamed on IRA members, received a warm ovation from hundreds of people who gathered in the nationalist Short Strand to back their campaign for justice.
The family carried placards emblazed with the slogans 'Murdered - who's next?' and 'Where's my daddy?' and were cheered as they prepared to address the rally.
Among those who attended were Sinn Féin's South Belfast Assembly member Alex Maskey and councillor Joe O'Donnell.
Nationalist SDLP deputy leader Dr Alastair McDonnell also turned up to hear Mr McCartney's sister Paula and Bloody Sunday campaigner Eamonn McCann speak.
Ms Paula McCartney told the crowd: "Without the support of this community and others, we believe that our cry for justice would have gone unheeded like so many others.
"We hope and pray over the coming days and weeks those responsible for Robert's murder and in the cover and clean-up operation will do the patriotic and right thing and hand themselves over and tell all they know truthfully.
"If not, they should be pressurised to do so. "If these men walk free from this, then everyone in Ireland should fear the consequences. Justice must be done."
On Friday, the IRA announced it had expelled three of its members after an internal investigation into the fatal attack on Mr McCartney at Magenniss's Bar in Belfast City Centre.
The Provisionals said one of the three had gone to a solicitor to make a statement after the incident while the others had been asked to take responsibility.
Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams also said yesterday had he been in the bar, he would have gone to a lawyer with information.