Police charged two Belfast men in connection with the knife slaying of a Catholic civilian, the first breakthrough in an IRA-linked case that has overshadowed Northern Ireland's peace process for months.
Police said the two men, who were arrested Wednesday, were set to be arraigned yesterday in Belfast Crown Court for their alleged roles in killing Robert McCartney, 33, and seriously wounding his friend Brendan Devine outside a Belfast pub on Jan. 30.
The Irish Republican Army initially denied involvement. But after facing public pressure from McCartney's five sisters and fiancee, the group admitted its members committed the attack.
Since then, members of the IRA and its allied Sinn Fein party have faced continued criticism internationally for allegedly covering up evidence and refusing to cooperate with the police investigation.
Police said a 49-year-old man would face a charge of murdering McCartney, while a 36-year-old man would be charged with the attempted murder of Devine.
The two men are the first to face charges in the case. They were among a dozen suspects that had been arrested previously and released without charge after refusing to answer questions.
Witnesses say an IRA unit initially attacked Devine inside the pub, then targeted McCartney when he pulled his friend, bleeding from a neck wound, outside. The gang stabbed McCartney in the neck and stomach and clubbed him in the head with iron bars, then went back inside the pub to mop up blood and other forensic evidence.
They also allegedly took a tape from a surveillance camera and warned witnesses not to talk to police.
The McCartney sisters, who have taken their campaign to the White House and the EU Parliament, said they were initially stunned, then overcome with joy -- but emphasized that their mission for justice still had a long way to go.
"We hope it will lead to further arrests, because there were more than two people involved. We still have a long way to go in terms of a trial and convictions," said Catherine McCartney. "We are happy this has happened, but we know it is by no means over."
Seven people sustained mostly minor injuries in an airplane fire in South Korea, authorities said yesterday, with local media suggesting the blaze might have been caused by a portable battery stored in the overhead bin. The Air Busan plane, an Airbus A321, was set to fly to Hong Kong from Gimhae International Airport in southeastern Busan, but caught fire in the rear section on Tuesday night, the South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said. A total of 169 passengers and seven flight attendants and staff were evacuated down inflatable slides, it said. Authorities initially reported three injuries, but revised the number
‘BALD-FACED LIE’: The woman is accused of administering non-prescribed drugs to the one-year-old and filmed the toddler’s distress to solicit donations online A social media influencer accused of filming the torture of her baby to gain money allegedly manufactured symptoms causing the toddler to have brain surgery, a magistrate has heard. The 34-year-old Queensland woman is charged with torturing an infant and posting videos of the little girl online to build a social media following and solicit donations. A decision on her bail application in a Brisbane court was yesterday postponed after the magistrate opted to take more time before making a decision in an effort “not to be overwhelmed” by the nature of allegations “so offensive to right-thinking people.” The Sunshine Coast woman —
BORDER SERVICES: With the US-funded International Rescue Committee telling clinics to shut by tomorrow, Burmese refugees face sudden discharge from Thai hospitals Healthcare centers serving tens of thousands of refugees on the Thai-Myanmar border have been ordered shut after US President Donald Trump froze most foreign aid last week, forcing Thai officials to transport the sickest patients to other facilities. The International Rescue Committee (IRC), which funds the clinics with US support, told the facilities to shut by tomorrow, a local official and two camp committee members said. The IRC did not respond to a request for comment. Trump last week paused development assistance from the US Agency for International Development for 90 days to assess compatibility with his “America First” policy. The freeze has thrown
PINEAPPLE DEBATE: While the owners of the pizzeria dislike pineapple on pizza, a survey last year showed that over 50% of Britons either love or like the topping A trendy pizzeria in the English city of Norwich has declared war on pineapples, charging an eye-watering ￡100 (US$124) for a Hawaiian in a bid to put customers off the disputed topping. Lupa Pizza recently added pizza topped with ham and pineapple to its account on a food delivery app, writing in the description: “Yeah, for ￡100 you can have it. Order the champagne too! Go on, you monster!” “[We] vehemently dislike pineapple on pizza,” Lupa co-owner Francis Wolf said. “We feel like it doesn’t suit pizza at all,” he said. The other co-owner, head chef Quin Jianoran, said they kept tinned pineapple
RSS