Police in Northern Ireland have arrested a 29-year-old man in connection with the murder of Robert McCartney.
The man handed himself over to police today. He walked into a city centre police station alone to meet with detectives.
It is understood that the man who volunteered to meet officers at Musgrave Street police station is not one of the three men who were discharged by the IRA in relation to the killing.
But detectives believe he was in a Belfast bar with the gang on the same night they battered and stabbed Mr McCartney to death.
Earlier today the PSNI chief constable Hugh Orde confirmed said people wanted for questioning about the murder of Belfast man Robert McCartney had left Northern Ireland. However, a police spokesman later said this was no longer the case.
As Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy demanded more from the IRA than the expulsion of three members over the pub brawl killing, it emerged that detectives would be liaising with gardaí in a bid to speak to those they believe could help the inquiry.
"Unsurprisingly a number of people go missing after that sort of crime," Mr Orde said. "That's nothing new to Northern Ireland and we are currently pursuing a number of people who are outside jurisdiction."
Mr McCartney (33), was battered and stabbed to death in Belfast on January 30th following a row with known republicans in a city centre bar close to his Short Strand home.
The attack has brought pressure on the IRA and Sinn Féin leaderships, with the victims' families mounting a high profile campaign to bring the killers to justice.
The dead man's sisters and partners alleged witnesses have been intimidated by republicans attempting to thwart the police investigation with a wall of silence.
The IRA said three of its members were expelled, but Mr Murphy said that did not go far enough.
"The important thing is that we actually catch the murderers and also that witnesses in the Short Strand and elsewhere who might know something about this come to police and tell police all they know," he said.
"That's the only way we can deal with this. The appeal from Robert McCartney's family in order for people to be allowed to go to police is absolutely crucial."
Even though some of those who were in Magennis's Bar when the row flared are believed to have made contact with detectives, police have still to get anyone willing to testify and supply vital evidence.