The family of Robert McCartney has welcomed the suspension by Sinn Féin of seven members allegedly involved in his murder but criticised the party for the delaying the move.
In a response to Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams's announcement of the suspensions, the McCartney family said the move was "nothing more than what would have been expected from any democratically elected party.
McCartney family statement
"We would have liked this to have happened earlier as those names have been known to Sinn Féin officials from the outset."
In a statement last night, Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams said he had asked the McCartney family for the names of those they believe to have been involved in the incident that led to their brother's death.
"I was informed that seven of those named are members of Sinn Féin. All were immediately suspended from the party. This is on a without-prejudice basis," he said.
He said the suspensions would be enforced "pending the outcome of the legal process".
Mr Adams continued: "If any of these seven are found to have been involved in the events surrounding the death of Robert McCartney, or if they do not provide truthful accounts at this time as the McCartney family have requested, Sinn Féin will take further internal disciplinary action to expel these individuals."
Each of the seven had been "personally instructed to provide full and frank statements", he said.
The IRA has already expelled three members for their involvement in the murder on January 30th, in which a friend of Mr McCartney's was also stabbed and severely beaten.