The Minister for Defence has said he believes it is unlikely that anyone will ever be brought to book for the murder of Robert McCartney.
Willie O'Dea said yesterday he believed that if Sinn Féin wanted its activists or supporters to assist in the investigation of the murder then it could do so.
His initial pessimism that anything would happen in relation to the McCartney murder had been reinforced in recent times.
"I believe it is unlikely that somebody will be brought to book for this, one of the most appalling crimes perpetrated on this island and one that took place in front of 70 eyewitnesses."
The Minister said it seemed that the people involved were senior people in the IRA who were indispensable to the IRA, and it was not going to give them up. He said the IRA had no interest in justice, and was still holding communities in a grip of terror.
Mr O'Dea criticised Sinn Féin leaders Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness for engaging in a public relations exercise from the beginning to the end in relation to the McCartney killing.
He said that either Sinn Féin had failed abysmally in encouraging its supporters to assist in the murder investigation or else the party had made no effort at all.
Mr McCartney's sisters took their campaign for justice to Brussels yesterday where they will meet members of the European Parliament. Their visit will culminate in a meeting with the president of the Parliament, Joseph Borrell.
Mr McCartney, a 33-year-old father of two, was stabbed to death after a pub brawl in Belfast city centre on January 30th.
Catherine McCartney, one of his five sisters, said they would be highlighting the difficulties they were having in persuading witnesses to the murder to come forward.
"We want to find out what Europe can do in terms of practical support for our campaign," she said.
A 31-year-old man questioned by detectives in connection with the murder was released on Monday night without charge. He was arrested after presenting himself at a Belfast police station with his solicitor.
The IRA expelled three of its members allegedly involved in the fatal attack, while Sinn Féin suspended seven of its members.
Police investigating the incident have questioned a total of 12 men, but so far no one has been charged with the murder.
Additional reporting by PA
