Victim's sister may stand in poll

Robert McCartney, 33, was killed near Belfast city centre

The sister of a man found murdered in Belfast last month has said she is considering standing for election to the city's council in May.

Robert McCartney, 33, was stabbed in the city centre on 30 January.

No-one has been charged in connection with his killing, although it is believed there were up to 70 witnesses to the crime.

His sister Paula said her family will do anything to bring her brother's killers to justice.

"Our primary concern is the capture of the murderers of our brother. That is our agenda," she said.

"We have said before we will do anything, if that means standing for election, whatever it takes we are prepared to do it."

The McCartney family has accused republicans of pressurising witnesses not to talk to the police, although last week they welcomed an IRA statement urging Robert's killers to take responsibility for their actions.

The statement, which denied any IRA involvement in Mr McCartney's murder, said no-one should hinder his family "in their search for truth and justice".

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein justice spokesman Gerry Kelly has said that people with "reservations" about the PSNI must be allowed to help the McCartney family.

"I would like to see the family getting justice in this, and the people who were involved in this brutal slaying should be rejected entirely by the community... and brought to justice," he said.

A man arrested in connection with the killing was released without charge by police last week.