Robert McCartney murder: BBC documentary reveals sisters’ fight for justice from Belfast to White House
Sunday 25 October 2026
The extraordinary campaign for justice following the murder of Belfast father Robert McCartney is the focus of a new three-part BBC documentary, with all episodes available to watch now on BBC iPlayer ahead of tonight’s television broadcast.
Murder in Belfast: Sisters Seeking Justice tells how five sisters challenged the IRA following their brother’s killing, taking their demands for answers from the streets of Belfast to the White House.
Produced by the BBC in association with RTÉ, the series features previously unseen police footage, new testimony from a survivor of the violence and accounts from political figures who became involved in the family's campaign.
A Sunday night that ended in murder
Robert McCartney’s killing followed a confrontation that began during a Sunday night at a Belfast city pub before escalating into gang violence and murder.
What began as a family tragedy became a major political controversy when information emerged implicating members of the IRA in the killing and allegations surfaced that evidence had been destroyed.
Robert McCartney's sister Paula.
Robert’s five sisters – Catherine, Paula, Gemma, Donna and Claire – joined his fiancée in a public campaign to uncover the truth and bring those responsible to justice.
The documentary explores how the working-class women challenged the influence of the IRA, accusing members and supporters of the organisation of protecting those responsible for their brother’s death.
New testimony and previously unseen police footage
Among the documentary’s most significant contributions is an account from Brendan Devine, who survived the violence and describes the events leading to McCartney’s murder on camera for the first time.
A police insider also provides an account of how the IRA allegedly cleaned up the scene and seized video evidence following the killing.
The series examines how dozens of people inside the bar claimed to have witnessed nothing, despite the violent events that had unfolded.
Viewers will also see police video footage of the scene being made public for the first time, providing further insight into the circumstances surrounding the murder and the subsequent investigation.
Five sisters who challenged the IRA
Robert McCartney's sister Catherine.
At the heart of the series are the accounts of Catherine, Paula, Gemma, Donna and Claire, who describe the personal consequences of losing their brother and the challenges they faced in seeking justice.
Their campaign brought them into conflict with some members of their own community who supported the IRA, which the sisters accused of protecting those responsible.
The documentary also explores their direct interactions with the organisation and how their determination to uncover the truth tested their loyalties and beliefs.
As their campaign gathered momentum, the sisters found themselves drawn into a political struggle extending far beyond their original search for answers.
From Belfast to the White House
The campaign eventually reached the international stage, with the sisters travelling to the White House as their brother’s murder became an issue of political significance.
The documentary features contributions from former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Mitchell Reiss, the American envoy who brought the sisters to the White House.
Reiss recognised that the political fallout from the killing could be used to increase pressure on the IRA to disarm, connecting the family’s campaign with wider developments in Northern Ireland’s peace process.
The series examines how a family's demand for justice became intertwined with international diplomacy and political efforts to address the continuing influence of paramilitary organisations.
The trial and the unanswered questions
After the international attention surrounding the murder had faded, men accused in connection with the killing faced trial.
All were found not guilty, leaving the family without a conviction in connection with Robert McCartney’s death.
In the final episode, the sisters reflect on what they believe their campaign achieved, how their own beliefs and loyalties were challenged, and the impact of the trial and its aftermath.
Their testimony offers a personal account of the lasting consequences of the murder and the difficulties faced by a family determined to establish the truth.
How to watch the documentary
All three episodes of Murder in Belfast: Sisters Seeking Justice are available now on BBC iPlayer, having been released this morning (Sunday 25 October).
The series will also be broadcast on television across BBC and RTÉ channels.
• BBC iPlayer – All three episodes available now.
• BBC One Northern Ireland – Sunday 25 October, 10.30pm to 11.30pm.
• RTÉ One and RTÉ Player – Tuesday 27 October at 10.15pm.
• BBC Two – Wednesday 28 October at 9pm.
Watch the series now on BBC iPlayer.
The production behind the series
Murder in Belfast: Sisters Seeking Justice is a Spotlight Film for the BBC in association with RTÉ.
The documentary is produced, directed and filmed by John O’Kane, with Gwyneth Jones and Chris Thornton serving as executive producers for the BBC.
Executive producers for RTÉ are Seán Mac Giolla Phádraig and Colm O’Callaghan, while the series was commissioned by Adam Smyth.
More than two decades after Robert McCartney’s murder, the documentary brings renewed attention to a family whose determination to secure justice challenged the IRA and reached the highest levels of international politics. Their campaign became part of Northern Ireland’s political history, but the central question of who would be held accountable for their brother’s killing remains unresolved.
