Gary Titley: Leader of UK Labour MEPs

Sinn Fein has again come under pressure following alleged republican involvement in the killing of Robert McCartney.

The issue is back in the spotlight as a key group of MEPs pledged to help McCartney's family in their fight for justice.

Socialist members of the European Parliament have pledged to donate up to €10,000 (£6,800) to the family of McCartney, the Belfast man murdered by IRA members last December.

The group are calling on Sinn Fein to insist that witnesses and those involved in the killing should come forward and help the Northern Ireland police with their investigations.

The Party of European Socialists (PES) - which includes the UK Labour Party, the SDLP in Northern Ireland and the Irish Labour Party - will also write to the parliament's other groups and ask them for donations to help the family's legal fight.

Three of Robert McCartney's sisters had earlier met with key figures from the PES, including President Martin Schulz and Vice-President Gary Titley, leader of the British Labour MEPs.

The sisters told the politicians: "Weeks have now gone by and we are coming up against blank wall after blank wall. This is a question of justice and human rights.

"We believe that justice and peace can coexist. For justice to exist, however, it is necessary for peace to be sustainable. Sinn Fein has a clear responsibility in this matter."

Schulz said that the socialist group was proud to support the family.

"The sisters and partner of Robert McCartney who was murdered in Belfast on 30 January deserve the full support of democrats everywhere," he said.

"There has been clear intimidation. To put Mr McCartney's sisters under pressure is totally unacceptable and we reject efforts to do so with utter contempt.

"There is a clear responsibility for democratically elected politicians to act in a democratic manner."

Titley said the case was one of "straight forward cold-blooded murder".

"The leadership of Sinn Fein should insist that those responsible for the murder and witnesses to the murder cooperate directly with the Police Service of Northern Ireland and be protected fully from any retaliation by the IRA," he said.

The McCartney family have estimated they need at least £250,000 to take out a civil action against the men they hold responsible for their brother's murder.