The trial of the man accused of murdering Robert McCartney was postponed indefinitely today due to legal reasons.
Terence Malachy Davison (51) had been due to face the charge of killing the 33-year-old father-of-two outside a Belfast bar more than three years ago.
After an initial 24-hour delay, the trial had been due to commence at Belfast Crown Court today. However, trial judge Lord Justice Higgins said it would not now proceed as planned. A new date for the hearing has not yet been set.
Along with two other men - James McCormick (39) and Joseph Gerard Emmanuel Fitzpatrick (47) - Davison was also due to face charges of affray in relation to the same incident in January 2005.
Fitzpatrick is also charged with assaulting another man. All three accused were in court ahead of the scheduled start.
The charges relate to an incident outside Magennis’s Bar where Mr McCartney was murdered and his friend, Brendan Devine, was badly injured after an argument inside spiralled out of control.
The killing of the forklift truck driver created headlines around the world, with members of the Provisional IRA accused of involvement at what was a crucial time in the Northern Ireland peace process.
Mr McCartney’s five sisters, who, following their brother’s death, took a high-profile campaign as far as the White House in Washington, were in the public gallery as the postponement was announced.
The Belfast man’s fiancee and mother to his two sons, Bridgeen Hagans, was also in court, as was Mr Devine.
PA