Murder of Robert McCartney
30 Jan 2005
Were you in Belfast on the night of Sunday 30 January 2005?
Were you driving or a passenger in a large blue car behind St George's market?
If so police would like to speak to you, you may have information which would be valuable to the police investigation into the murder of Robert McCartney.
On the one year anniversary of Robert's murder police renewed their appeal for information on a blue coloured car, the occupants of which are thought to have witnessed some events leading up to Robert’s tragic death.
Detective Inspector Phil Marshall joined with the family to explain that the people in the blue car may not even know what it was that they saw that night.
He said:
"What we know at this stage is that the occupants of the car may have heard all about the murder of Robert, but they may not realise that what they saw that night was an assault, which led to his death.
"They may feel that what they saw was unimportant, as it may have looked to them like a drunken scuffle or indeed someone being punched.
"It is therefore very important that we take the time to look exactly where the blue car was when the group of men stumbled across the road in front of it at a set of traffic lights to the rear of St. George’s Market, East Bridge Street.
"It was late on the Sunday evening about 10.50pm the street lighting was on and the area was well lit. It is thought the blue car was stationary in this area at a red light. It had been stopped at the red light for up to 70 seconds.
"The blue car may have exited from Oxford Street turning right into East Bridge Street. It would then stop at the next set of traffic lights at the junction.
"Robert and a number of other people were on the road in front of that vehicle. It is believed the occupant or occupants of the car were aware of something happening on the roadway directly in front of them. It is important they realise now that this was an attack, which ended up in the death of Mr McCartney.
"The large blue car, the make and model of which are unknown goes down East Bridge Street and stopped at traffic lights waiting to turn right into Victoria Street.
"When that vehicle was stationary at the traffic lights an assault was occurring on Mr McCartney on the roadway directly in front of that vehicle.
"It is vital we speak to these people as they may have vital information that we need.
"Cromac Square is behind St Georges’ Market - it is opposite the Markets Residential Area.
"It may well have been that this blue car was coming from an entertainment venue in the city centre, perhaps the Waterfront Hall or the Odyssey or may have travelled in to the area over the Albert Bridge fro the East Belfast area.
"We believe the occupants may have revved the engine when the traffic lights turned to green. This may have been an indication to the people directly in front of them to move off the road.
"Information from the driver or others in the car may prove to be of real value to our continuing investigation.
"I urge members of the media to support police and the McCartney family by communicating details of the car, its position at the traffic lights and the possible route it has taken to members of the public. The driver and occupants may not know what they saw - they might only have been passing through Belfast or they may be unaware that Maginnis’s bar where this incident started is only a short distance away through an entry way.
"Someone out there knows something about the blue car. If you know something it is important you come forward with information. You can contact the incident room on 028 90700 311 or 0845 600 8000 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. A facility is still available with the police Ombudsman’s Office on 07748 158711.”
