World News 17-03-2005 Bush Praises Brave Sisters who: Murder victim Robert McCartney`s sisters Gemma, Paula, Donna, Claire and Catherine what: Arrive in US on campaign to bring IRA killers to justice where: Washington DC when: Tuesday night snippet: "The family of murdered Belfast man Robert McCartney have said they are encouraged after meeting US President George W Bush at the White House," reports the BBC. "Mr McCartney`s sisters and partner gave Mr Bush a dossier which details their claims that IRA members murdered the father-of-two on 30 January." "It details everything that has happened since January 30," says Catherine, telling The Scotsman about the dossier, "the events leading to Robert`s murder, the people involved and events since. We are very focused on what we are trying to achieve. We want justice for our brother." McCartney, 33, was killed near Belfast city centre after a row in Magennis`s bar on January 30th. Paula McCartney says members of Sinn Fein, the political wing of the IRA, have conspired to "cover-up" the identity of the killers. So, on Tuesday, Mr McCartney`s five sisters Gemma, Paula, Donna, Claire and Catherine, and his fiancée, Bridgeen Hagans, flew to the United States vowing to dispel any "romantic ideas" held about the Ulster troubles. Their itinerary included meetings with George W Bush, Senator Edward Kennedy and Senator Hillary Clinton. On Wednesday, Mr Bush "said he was looking forward to meeting the `very brave` family," reports The Guardian, "and hoped some good could come out of the `evil` crime." The meeting lasted just a few minutes, the sisters told the press afterwards, and the security at the White House was such that when they popped outside for a smoke to relieve the stress, they were locked out. But even that did not dampen their determination. "[President Bush] gave the impression that this was a transforming time in the peace process," says Catherine. "He knew all about our case and how important it is for Ireland. He left us feeling he will do all he can." SDLP leader Mark Durkan says the audience with Mr Bush has "done more to secure peace in recent weeks than either the Irish or British governments," reports Sky News. "The McCartney family is very clear about what justice demands and has held strong to those demands where the two governments have faltered," he says. "By doing that, they have moved the movement on five times in as many days." His comments are in stark contrast to those of Sinn Fein`s Martin McGuinness, who on Monday publicly warned the family to stay out of party politics. "The McCartneys need to be very careful," he said. To step over that line into the world of party politics can do a huge disservice to their campaign. In fact, it can dismay and disillusion tens of thousands of people who support them in their just demands." "We get the impression someone thinks out there that somebody`s behind this, pulling our strings," Catherine responded, quoted by The Scotsman on Wednesday. "The only person behind this is our Robert and he is the person pulling our strings. We have to be very careful we`re not being used by anybody - we`re not stupid women." The Times calls it "the ultimate exercise in DIY diplomacy". Washington correspondent Tim Reid writes: "What was so remarkable about yesterday`s meeting, the culmination of a week in which Sinn Fein and Gerry Adams have been denounced by numerous US politicians, most notably Senator Ted Kennedy, an erstwhile stalwart supporter, is that the sisters` entry to the White House came about because Catherine picked up the telephone in her living room in Belfast a month ago and asked to meet the President of the United States." [... more]

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