Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

In response to the motion, the House has rightly declared its dismay and outrage at the appalling events of 30 January last, which culminated in two men being left to bleed unattended on the streets of Belfast, one fatally. The shock initially felt by many people at the cold blooded nature of such an horrific crime has turned to anger at the audacity of those responsible, as they attempted to cover up and deny their actions by intimidating witnesses, threatening their own community and obstructing the police.

As the McCartney family has made clear to everyone on this island, its members and the partner of Robert McCartney want justice to prevail, as defined by any citizen of the new shared island, established by the Good Friday Agreement — justice in the courts on this island. They want those directly responsible for Robert McCartney's death, as well as those responsible for the clean-up operation that followed, to face police investigation, prosecution in court and the appropriate custodial sentence for their appalling crime.

The people of the Short Strand and the Markets have responded to the McCartneys' call for justice in a manner befitting the memory of Robert because they knew without question that he was undeserving of such a heinous attack. They also knew that the perpetrators of this criminal act were not deserving of the usual protection offered to those who present themselves as volunteers of the IRA. The character of these men was well known to the local community, despite the protection they continued to enjoy through their membership of that organisation. The courage, determination, dignity and honesty of the McCartneys have stirred in us all a passionate desire to see their wishes fulfilled and the murderers indicted and convicted.

The witnesses and evidence necessary for this to happen are readily available. There were reportedly 72 witnesses to this crime, 50 of whom were in the bar at the time. Some, if not many are in a position to offer key evidence against the perpetrators. Some may have been in a position to see what happened outside the premises in question, where the fatal wounds were inflicted. Under different circumstances, a witness to such blatant disregard for human life would have immediately called the authorities and attempted to assist the badly injured men. Co-operation with the police is an automatic response in a normal society.

However, life for these witnesses is different because they live under the shadow of paramilitaries, who claim status by association with the IRA and enforce that status through menace and violence. Being witness to such a bloody attack, they are under no illusions about what the perpetrators are capable of and would resort to once again to protect their selfish interests. Witnesses were warned that they would act contrary not just to the perpetrators but to the organisation to which they claimed allegiance, the IRA. In such circumstances, only the most direct and convincing statement and actions by Sinn Féin leaders and the IRA could redress the balance and encourage those witnesses to come forward and co-operate with the police.

As the Minister for Foreign Affairs, my colleague, Deputy Dermot Ahern, stated last night and repeated today, the litmus test for Sinn Féin and the Provisional movement now is in bringing forth the evidence which will mean that those responsible face the full force of the law. Whether that is through the IRA ordering those responsible to turn themselves in or through the IRA unconditionally and in a convincing manner lifting the threats imposed on witnesses to the murder itself, or any other such action, is secondary to the actual result that it produces.

Evidence that will stand up in court is the key to unmasking these supposed republicans, and it must be allowed to emerge in a manner conducive to the rule of law and justice for the family. The proposal to amend this motion by Sinn Féin was rejected by this House, as it was in similar circumstances last night by Belfast City Council. Sinn Féin can point the finger at the PSNI, the courts, the public prosecution service and any other body if it feels that it may help muddy the waters further around this matter, but it will not work. They can direct people to other sources of authority, such as solicitors, but unless the information is eventually imparted to the police and courts, it will not help the McCartney family find justice.

As the McCartney family said yesterday, people can go to the Police Ombudsman, a solicitor, or whomever they are comfortable with so long as they are prepared to stand up and give their information in court. As the Minister for Foreign Affairs made clear last night, the Government is not playing politics with policing, seeking somehow to use this case to compromise the Sinn Féin position on the issue. It will be apparent to many that it is Sinn Féin that is playing politics with policing in its persistent attempts to avoid the co-operation with the police necessary to bring the killers to justice.

The challenge facing the leaders of the republican movement is crystal clear. As the Minister pointed out, the double-speak of Sinn Féin will be tolerated no more. From misleading comments on knife culture to the insidious killing or manslaughter reference by Gerry Adams, Sinn Féin's selfishness has been matched only by its insensitivity. Convincing and effective action on its behalf and on behalf of the Provisional movement is urgently required to bring these killers before the courts. The McCartney family, and the people of Ireland, demand no less.

Until justice is done, it will be impossible for Robert McCartney's family, partner and children and their friends to mourn his sad passing fully or properly. Let us do all we can to allow them the opportunity to grieve for the terrible loss that they have suffered and give them the justice that they so obviously need to move on. I reiterate the Government's commitment to that family that the case will stay on the agenda until it is fully resolved to their satisfaction and that of the people of Ireland, North and South. I commend the motion to the House.

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