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McCartney witness admitted lying | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A man described as one of Robert McCartney's best friends, who was with him on the day he was killed, has been giving evidence at his murder trial. | A man described as one of Robert McCartney's best friends, who was with him on the day he was killed, has been giving evidence at his murder trial. |
Mr McCartney, 33, was beaten and stabbed to death outside a Belfast bar on 30 January 2005. | Mr McCartney, 33, was beaten and stabbed to death outside a Belfast bar on 30 January 2005. |
Edward Gowdy had been drinking with the victim in Magennis's bar in the city centre. | Edward Gowdy had been drinking with the victim in Magennis's bar in the city centre. |
During cross examination, he admitted lying to police because of a perceived paramilitary involvement in the murder. | |
Giving evidence from behind a curtain, he said that because of the area where he lived, he "didn't know the situation at the time, what I could say or what I couldn't say". | |
He said he went back into the bar and finished his drink and later received a text message from his wife saying Mr McCartney was "in a bad way". Edward Gowdy | |
Asked why he did not intervene when he saw his "great friend" and Brendan Devine being followed down Market Street by a group of men, he claimed they were armed. | |
When asked "did you have no worries for them at all? Why did you do nothing about it?", Mr Gowdy replied: "The reason why is that the IRA don't usually kill people on the street. They would do it the next day." | |
He added he was told by a man at the scene "we will sort him (Brendan Devine) tomorrow." | |
Earlier, Mr Gowdy said a fight broke out inside shortly after 2230 GMT and there was "a lot of blood and mayhem". | |
He said the next thing he remembered was standing outside the bar with Robert McCartney and another friend, Brendan Devine, who was covered in blood. | |
He said the three of them had then walked along a side street and he noticed a group of men following them, some of whom were carrying bottles and sticks. | He said the three of them had then walked along a side street and he noticed a group of men following them, some of whom were carrying bottles and sticks. |
Mr Gowdy said he went to talk to them and was hit across the face with a stick and told to leave the area. | Mr Gowdy said he went to talk to them and was hit across the face with a stick and told to leave the area. |
He said he went back into the bar and finished his drink and later received a text message from his wife saying Mr McCartney was "in a bad way". | He said he went back into the bar and finished his drink and later received a text message from his wife saying Mr McCartney was "in a bad way". |
Mr Gowdy said he went to the Royal Victoria Hospital where Mr McCartney later died. | Mr Gowdy said he went to the Royal Victoria Hospital where Mr McCartney later died. |
The trial, at Belfast Crown Court, continues. | The trial, at Belfast Crown Court, continues. |
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