Two arrests over McCartney murder

The 33-year-old father-of-two was killed near the city centre

Two men have been arrested in connection with the murder of Belfast man Robert McCartney in January.

The arrests took place as part of police operations in Belfast and Birmingham. The men are aged 36 and 49.

Mr McCartney, 33, was fatally stabbed outside a Belfast pub. His family have maintained IRA members were involved.

The arrests were made on Wednesday morning. Both men are understood to be from Belfast. They have been taken to Antrim police station for questioning.

Armed officers

In a statement on the Birmingham arrest, West Midlands Police said: "In the early hours of this morning armed officers visited an address in Victoria Road, Stechford and arrested a 36-year-old man on behalf of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

"The man has been transferred to Belfast for questioning in respect of the murder of Robert McCartney who died on 31 January 2005.

"A second man has also been arrested in Belfast."

It is believed the man arrested in Birmingham had been living at the address for the last three weeks.

Last month, a sister of Mr McCartney said police told her they were "closer to a breakthrough" in the investigation into her brother's murder.

Mr McCartney's sisters and partner have held a number of meetings with high profile politicians in their campaign for justice over the killing.

In March, they met US President George Bush at the White House in Washington.

The house in Birmingham where one man was arrested

They have also held separate meetings with US special envoy to Northern Ireland, Mitchell Reiss and the Irish Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern.

Last month, MEPs voted to request European Union money to help fund a civil case against those suspected of the killing.

The father-of-two died in hospital after being stabbed near Belfast city centre following a row with republicans in a bar.

The family said police have told them about a number of threats against them.

Sinn Fein has denied republicans were behind the threats.

Party president Gerry Adams called for those with information about the murder to come forward.

The IRA said it expelled three members over the murder and Sinn Fein subsequently suspended seven of its members.