Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
MCCARTNEY MURDER WILL NOT OVERSHADOW MY TIME AS CITY MAYOR
Hargey speaks out over 2005 killing
SINN Fein’s new mayor of Belfast has insisted a controversy over a notorious murder will not overshadow her elevation to first citizen.
In 2005 Deirdre Hargey was dropped as a prospective election candidate and temporarily suspended from the party when it emerged she was in a city centre bar on the night a fracas erupted that ended with the murder of Robert Mccartney on a pavement outside.
The murder of the 33-year-old, which was widely blamed on IRA members, rocked the fragile peace process, coming as it did at a time when Sinn Fein was under pressure to sign up to support the PSNI.
With CCTV tapes stolen in the wake of the killing, and widespread reports of witness intimidation, the republican movement was accused of covering up the murder and attempted murder of Mr Mccartney’s friend.
Of the 70 or so people in the bar that night, no one reported seeing anything of the fracas.
Mr Mccartney’s sisters embarked on a high-profile campaign for justice that took them all the way to the White House in Washington DC.
Ms Hargey did not directly engage with detectives at the time but made statements to a solicitor insisting she saw nothing of the row inside Magennis’s that ultimately ended in murder.
Thirteen years on, as it was confirmed she was Sinn Fein’s chosen candidate as
BELFAST YESTERDAY
the city’s new lord mayor, the 38-year-old politician from the republican Market area insisted she did all she could to help the Mccartney family achieve justice.
She said: “I want to take this opportunity to again extend my sincere condolences to the Mccartney family.
“What happened to their brother was wrong, it should not have happened.
“I complied fully with the investigation and I am conscious there is an ongoing investigation that is still live into this case. But the family do deserve justice.”
Ms Hargey said the police had never asked to interview her upon receipt of her statements. Indicating her willingness to talk to detectives if they wished her to, she urged anyone with information to come forward.
The councillor denied any suggestion of being part of any alleged cover-up.
Ms Hargey said: “Certainly not, most certainly not. I do think I have fully complied with the investigation.
“I have always been open to fully complying with the investigation and would call on everyone to do the same.
“If they have any information they need to take it to the authorities for them to investigate, and to ensure that due process happens and justice is returned to the family.”
Asked if she was concerned the issue would define her appointment, she said: “No. I offer my condolences, my thoughts are with the Mccartney family at this time and I do hope they do see justice.”