A Northern Ireland court acquitted three men yesterday of involvement in the murder of Belfast man Robert McCartney, whose killing three years ago sparked international outrage.

Mr McCartney, 33, a father of two, was stabbed to death in a brawl outside a Belfast bar in January 2005, prompting his sisters to launch a campaign for justice that took them to the White House, where they met President George W. Bush.

Judge John Gillen acquitted the three men yesterday at Belfast Crown Court of all charges. In the past, members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) were among those accused of involvement in the killing of Mr McCartney, who lived in a predominantly nationalist area of Belfast. Facing what they called a conspiracy of silence from witnesses due to IRA intimidation, Mr McCartney's family heaped pressure on the guerrilla group to disarm and end their 30-year campaign to oust Britain from Northern Ireland.

After the killing, the IRA expelled three members and even offered to kill those responsible - an offer rejected out of hand by the Mr McCartney family.

Passing judgment yesterday, Judge Gillen said: "I have no doubt that the investigation into this crime will continue and if new evidence emerges in connection with this murder no one, including for that matter even the accused in this trial, will be beyond the reach of potential prosecution."

One of the defendants, Terence Malachy Davison, had been charged with murder, while Joseph Gerard Fitzpatrick had been charged with assault. All three, including James McCormick, were charged with affray. All had denied any wrongdoing.

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