UVF murder victim's family in appeal to US consul

Murdered Belfast man Craig McCausland's family today took their fight for justice to the US Government.

Relatives of the 20-year-old, shot dead by the Ulster Volunteer Force in July, held talks with Dean Pittman, the administration's Consul General in Northern Ireland.

They urged him to help put pressure on Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain, claiming little has been done to hunt down the killers.

Mr McCausland's cousin, Nichola McIlvenny, said: "We have several questions we want to put to Mr Hain, but he has said it's the wrong time to meet with the family.

"The [British] government doesn't seem to be doing anything, and this is about taking it elsewhere until we get justice.

"Hopefully talking to Dean Pittman will put a bit of pressure on Mr Hain to meet with us.

"It's about raising awareness with people from the US and their representatives here."

Mr McCausland was murdered by gunmen who burst into his partner's home in the Woodvale district of north Belfast on July 11.

Although detectives have made arrests, no-one has been charged with the killing.

It was one of four during the summer linked to the UVF's feud with the splinter Loyalist Volunteer Force.

But the victim's family have strenuously denied he had any connections with the LVF.