McCartney visit was organised by SDLP

Senior members of Mark Durkan's SDLP helped arrange the McCartney
family's trip to Washington last week, it has been revealed.

The nationalist party is facing an uphill battle to contain
advances by Sinn Fein in the British general election in six
weeks time.

The party helped book the flight through a travel agency that is
part-owned by Alasdair McDonnell, the SDLP deputy leader, using
credit he personally extended to the family.

Until now, the SDLP had denied helping with the family's trip.
The family have also insisted their campaign for justice in the
death of their brother would not be used for political purposes.

Dr McDonnell, a partner in Arrow Travel, admitted he had given
the McCartneys credit approval for the trip, but denied knowing
an SDLP adviser had helped arrange it.

"I was contacted by the manager and asked if I would give the
credit approval and I made a decision to do that.

"But I did not tell the McCartney family what to do. I didn't
know that Tim Attwood had anything to do with it," he said.

The SDLP also used a former member of its youth wing to act as a
press officer for the family during their St Patrick's Day trip,
it has emerged.

It is also understood that the Labour party in the 26 Counties
has offered to channel funds to the McCartneys on behalf of an
unnamed benefactor.

Catherine McCartney, a sister of Robert McCartney, said the
family had been desperate for any help they could get.

"Sinn Fein and the SDLP are both fighting for the same
nationalist votes but we aren't interested in that. For us, it is
about the campaign for Robert's killers to be brought to
justice."

Ms McCartney has denied weekend media reports that the family had
no money.

"We are not skint. I didn't say that,' said Ms McCartney. "The
money we have been given will be used to pay for the trip. No one
else but us is paying for it."

Meanwhile, the family has decided to contest the local or general
elections in May.

Paula McCartney said the family had decided that their energy
would be best spent on the campaign for justice.

"If we went into the elections, our attention would be distracted
by other issues," she said.