The demonstration was organised by the family of Robert McCartney to show that they were not afraid of the IRA, relatives said, and was further evidence that the iron grip of the paramilitaries was being challenged in their heartlands by ordinary people. A statement from the Provisionals on Friday evening said that three “volunteers”, two described as “high-ranking”, had been dismissed after an internal inves tigation. In a separate development a man was released without charge on Saturday evening by police investigating Mr McCartney’s death after presenting himself to police earlier in the day. Local sources confirmed last night that the man was not one of the three IRA members expelled from the organisation.

Mr McCartney’s murder has piled further pressure on the Provisional IRA and Sinn Fein, its political wing, with widespread accusations that it is mired in criminality after the UK’s largest bank robbery. The group stole £26.5 million from the Northern Bank in Belfast.

While Bertie Ahern, the Irish Prime Minister, said that the latest IRA statement marked a significant development, at yesterday’s rally Paula McCartney, the murdered man’s sister, made it clear that the family would not rest until his killers faced trial — an unprecedented development in an area of Belfast where the IRA’s writ normally runs unchallenged.

Some 1,500 people cheered and applauded the family in the republican Short Strand district in mainly Protestant East Belfast as they paraded holding banners saying “We want the individuals who are bringing us all down to be brought to justice” and “Why my daddy?”. Addressing the crowd, Mrs McCartney, 40, said that people were showing great courage by defying the IRA’s threats in turning out to listen to her appeal for justice.

Of her brother’s killers she said: “Their only concern while Robert lay dripping with blood was to clear up the mess and go and have another pint.”

After his murder the killers returned to the bar to destroy potential forensic evidence and take away a CCTV camera recording. “We hope and pray that over the coming days and weeks those responsible for Robert’s murder and the cover-up and clean-up operation will do the patriotic and right thing and hand themselves over and tell all they know truthfully,” Mrs McCartney said.

“If not, they must be pressurised to do so. If these men walk free from this, then everyone in Ireland should fear for the consequences. Only when justice has been achieved can we feel that humanity and decency have been restored and we the people can be free of being murdered by those who claim to work in our name.”

Alex Maskey, a former Sinn Fein Mayor of Belfast who attended the rally, was challenged by Gerry MacKay, an uncle of the dead man. Mr McKay demanded that Mr Maskey “hand over the 12” IRA members involved in the killing on January 30. Mr MacKay chided Mr Maskey for turning up and told him to “stop making stupid comments” to the press.

Mr Maskey said that Sinn Fein supported the McCartney family’s search for justice. “We are here today to show that we are showing political leadership, as we have been through all this,” he said. Mr MacKay said: “If these people here are prepared to hand over the killers then that’s the end of the story.” He added that, although he supported the 1998 Good Friday agreement, “if there was another vote on it, no way would I vote ‘Yes’ again, because these boys are dictating all the terms”.

In South Armagh, Gerry Adams, the Sinn Fein president, told supporters that he stood behind the family’s demands for the truth. “Robert McCartney’s murder has shocked hundreds of thousands of republicans throughout Ireland and we are united in our call for anyone with information about the killing to come forward,” he said.

“I want to send my support to the rally which is taking place in the Short Strand this afternoon and which is being attended by Sinn Fein leaders in the city. Sinn Fein fully supports the family of Robert McCartney in their demand for justice and truth.”

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