Posted on 05/10/2005 4:55:14 PM PDT by Irish_Thatcherite
Tuesday, 10th May, 2005
Euro MPs will today back the McCartney sisters' fight for justice over the murder of their brother Robert.
A resolution due to be approved in Strasbourg calls for the unprecedented use of EU anti-terror funds to finance a civil legal action if Northern Ireland police fail to bring a criminal prosecution.
Mr McCartney was stabbed and beaten to death after a row in a Belfast bar on January 30th.
Last night, MEPs condemned Sinn Féin and accused the "self-styled Irish Republic Army" of creating a climate of fear that has prevented potential witnesses from coming forward.
Democratic Unionist MEP Jim Allister, who named three men he said should "tell what they know", said afterwards: "Never in the history of this parliament has there been such a unanimous chorus of condemnation of Sinn Féin/IRA and, in particular, its failure to give up the killers of Robert McCartney ."
EU Commissioner Stavros Dimas said the commission condemned Mr McCartney's murder and understood, admired and fully supported the "decisive" action of the McCartney family.
But he added: "The commission cannot intervene in investigative procedures of member states. The only thing we can do is express admiration for the very brave stance of the McCartney sisters in seeking justice, not revenge."
The leader of
Fine Gael MEPs, Avril Doyle, said the McCartney family had conducted a "courageous, dignified and determined pursuit of justice".
The motion on the table, backed by more than 600 MEPs - although not the two Sinn Féin members - condemned "violence and criminality by the self-styled 'Irish Republican Army' (IRA) in Northern Ireland, in particular the murder of Robert McCartney".
It urged the Sinn Féin leadership "to insist that those responsible for the murder and witnesses to the murder co-operate directly with the Police Service of Northern Ireland and be free from the threat of reprisals from the IRA".
It also proposed that "if the Police Service of Northern Ireland is unable to bring a prosecution . . . the European Union grant a financial contribution toward the cost of legal fees incurred by the McCartney family in their quest for justice, by way of civil proceedings".
If endorsed in a vote of MEPs today, the proposal will then be considered by the European Commission - which has already promised to help - and EU government ministers.
McCartney sisters ping.
Finally a positive sign from the EU.
I see your point, however, the IRA is one militia we can do without. (Explains the sudden decency from Europe, though - typical example of the EU's shrewd duplicity!)
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