McCartneys abandon leaflet drop after threats

Last updated at 09:41 14 April 2005


Republicans have been blamed for forcing the sisters and partner of IRA murder victim Robert McCartney to abandon a door-to-door distribution of leaflets calling for support for a vigil in his memory.

Relatives and associates of the man who allegedly ordered the killing were among those involved, according to one of Mr McCartney's sisters, Paula.

She said: "They were screaming and shouting abuse and telling us to get out of the district."

Paula, Gemma, Donna, a fourth sister Clare and Mr McCartney's partner Bridgeen Hagan, a mother-of-two were delivering leaflets in the Short Strand area when they were confronted by a crowd.

The leaflets were calling for support for a vigil outside Magennis's Bar in Belfast where Mr McCartney was involved in a row before he was later stabbed outside on the night of January 30.

Paula said: "This was blatant discrimination, very loud and threatening and they were trying to blacken Robert's name.

"They tried to provoke us into physical confrontation but we did not rise to it. The verbal abuse was sickening and they were attempting to smear Robert's name. Someone was also trying to take photographs of us.

"We were forced to abandon the delivery after the crowd had gathered."

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