The trial of a man accused of killing Belfast man Robert McCartney in the city three years ago has been delayed for a third time.
Terence Davison (51) was due to appear at the city’s Crown Court this morning charged with killing the father of two outside a Belfast bar in January 2005.
It was hoped the trial would start this morning following two previous attempts, but it will now start on Wednesday after a barrister was held up at another trial.
Last Monday the hearing was adjourned for 24 hours because a defence barrister was delayed at another case.
Then on Tuesday, judge Lord Justice Higgins said the trial had to be postponed again for legal reasons.
Along with two other men - James McCormick (39) and Joseph Gerrard Emmanuel Fitzpatrick (47) - Mr Davison was also due to face charges of affray.
The charges relate to violent clashes outside Magennis’s Bar in Belfast in January 2005, where Mr McCartney was murdered and his friend, Brendan Devine, was badly injured after an argument inside.
The murder attracted international media coverage, with the Provisional IRA accused of involvement at what was a pivotal time in the peace process in Northern Ireland.
Sinn Féin denied any IRA members were involved in Mr McCartney’s murder.