Sinn Féin has suspended seven members in connection with the McCartney murder and passed their names to Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan, writes Dan Keenan, Northern News Editor.
The move was announced last night by Gerry Adams, who denounced the killing of Robert McCartney. The 33-year-old father of two was fatally stabbed outside a Belfast city centre bar following a brawl in which republicans were involved on January 30th.
Mr Adams said he had asked the McCartney family for the names of those they believe to have been involved in the incident which 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 in a statement. He said the suspensions would be enforced "pending the outcome of the legal process".
He 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, he said, had been "personally instructed to provide full and frank statements".
He added: "Although I stress that Sinn Féin has no basis to make any allegations against any of these suspended members at this time - and some or all may be innocent of any offence - I have instructed the solicitor to pass the names given to me by the McCartney family to the Police Ombudsman."
This morning the PSNI is expected to announce a formal arrangement with Mrs O'Loan's office to facilitate those unwilling to approach the police to use the Ombudsman as an intermediary.
Evidence gathered in such fashion would be admissible in court under the terms of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act. However, The Irish Times was told that sooner or later those who approach Mrs O'Loan with information will have to deal with a police officer or make a court appearance.
Mr McCartney's family last night said that an interview with a senior Belfast republican in yesterday's Daily Ireland had not substantially altered their position. Gerard Davison told the newspaper he was not involved in the murder and had done his best to halt the pub row.
However, Mr McCartney's sister, Catherine, said: "He seems very keen to exonerate himself. The best way to do that is in court, not in a newspaper."