Sinn Féin's handling of the campaign for justice by the family of murdered Belfast father of two Robert McCartney is a real test for republicans, the leader of the Green Party claimed today.
Dublin North TD Trevor Sargent said during campaigning in North Down for the Green's local government election candidates that Sinn Féin also needed to sign up to policing arrangements to help advance efforts to bring those responsible for the murder to justice.
"I look at other parties where members have been expelled and it was done very publicly and there was no going back in many cases," Mr Sargent said. "I see in contrast the lack of effort in the sense that those who have been suspended are still able to pretend that it was not they who left but it was the party (Sinn Fein) that left them.
"The equivocation does not help to build trust and certainly doesn't help the family to get any closure on the traumatic events of their brother's murder.
"I really feel that this is the rubicon for the Republican Movement. If they were serious about this case being solved, and indeed many others, they would bite the bullet and become part of the inquiry.
"To do that requires joining the Policing Board and indeed encouraging people to co-operate with police on the basis that everyone is on board with the Policing Board."
Sinn Féin has faced demands from the McCartney family and politicians in the Republic, Northern Ireland and the United States to encourage co-operation with the police investigation into the January 30 murder.
The IRA has expelled three members for their involvement in the brutal beating and stabbing of Robert McCartney outside Magennis's Bar in Belfast City Centre following a row involving republicans.
Mr McCartney's friend Brendan Devine was also seriously wounded in the attack.
Sinn Fein has also suspended several members including former councillor Sean Hayes, ex-Assembly candidates Cora Groogan and Deirdre Hargey, pending the outcome of internal and other investigations. The party also pulled plans to field Ms Hargey and Ms Groogan as candidates for the local government elections.
The McCartney family and police have been frustrated by a wall of silence which has developed among the 70 people who were drinking in the bar when the row which led to Robert McCartney's death erupted.