PSNI questioning two over McCartney murder

PSNI detectives are continuing to question two men today in connection with the murder of Robert McCartney.

PSNI detectives are continuing to question two men today in connection with the murder of Robert McCartney.

Armed officers smashed down a door arrest one man (36) in an early morning raid at a bedsit in Birmingham yesterday. A second man (49) was detained in Belfast.

Mr McCartney (33), from the Short Strand area of Belfast, was murdered by IRA men after being dragged from a city centre bar four months ago.

The two arrested come from the neighbouring Markets area, but one had been staying in Birmingham for the past three weeks.

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Police yesterday confirmed the two men can be held for questioning at Antrim for 72 hours.

Mr McCartney died after he was beaten and stabbed outside Magennis's Bar in Belfast city centre on January 30th.

His sister, Catherine McCartney, said she hoped the arrests would signal a major breakthrough in the investigation.

No one has yet been charged in connection with the murder even though key suspects and several customers who were in the bar at the time have been interviewed.

Mrs McCartney said: "We obviously welcome these arrests but remain cautious. "People have been arrested before and let out. Others have walked into police stations, stared at walls and said nothing."