McCord family goes unheard

The father of a man killed by unionist paramilitaries has criticised political representatives of ignoring a police cover-up in the case.

Mr McCord’s son Raymond Jnr was beaten to death and his body dumped in a north Belfast quarry in 1997. He believes the PSNI Special Branch blocked the inquiry into the murder to protect a high-ranking informer in the unionist paramilitary UVF.

As Robert McCartney’s were being feted in the US, Mr McCord criticised his own representatives.

“Myself and other victims are absolutely disgusted over the stance the Democratic Unionists and Ulster Unionists have taken on Robert McCartney.

“Why can’t they look at things closer to home. They have failed the people who voted them in,” he said.

Mr McCord, who has spoken out against the UVF men he insists were behind the brutal killing, praised the McCartney family’s campaign.

“But why have people within unionism stayed silent on the murders of our sons. “The UVF has murdered something like 30 Protestant people since their so-called ceasefire.”

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams had publicly called for the McCartney killers to come forward and give statements to Mrs O’Loan’s office, he pointed out.

“It seems to me that nationalist MPs have no qualms about fighting for their community but within unionism it’s the complete opposite. The stance they have taken, and their hypocrisy, is staggering.”

Urgent Appeal