The BBC has quietly added a harrowing three-part documentary, Murder in Belfast: Sisters Seeking Justice, which explores the 2005 gang attack that killed Robert McCartney and left viewers in tears. The full series is now available to stream on BBC iPlayer, with the first episode airing on BBC Two tonight.
Details of the 2005 attack
Robert McCartney was beaten and stabbed in an attack outside a Belfast pub on a Sunday evening in 2005 and later died in hospital. His friend Brendan Devine was also targeted but survived. The incident drew attention from the White House and sent shockwaves through the nation and beyond.
The official synopsis reads: "The killing of Robert McCartney erupted from nowhere: a Sunday night at a city pub ended in a gang attack and murder." It adds: "As evidence vanishes, Robert’s family aren’t getting any answers. There is a race to find out what happened from the survivor of the stabbing - but the police aren’t the only organisation trying to talk to witnesses."
Family testimony and political fallout
The series hears for the first time from survivor Brendan Devine and a police insider, and shows police video of the scene for the first time in public. It features Robert's sisters—Catherine, Paula, Gemma, Donna, and Claire—who share their experiences and tell the story of the murder and the world in which it happened.
Through heartbreaking testimony, viewers learn how the sisters' search for answers became absorbed into politics as their campaign gained momentum and they were thrust onto the world stage. The series also explores how the sisters found themselves on a collision course with some in their community who supported the IRA.
Viewer reactions and broadcast details
Some BBC viewers have already binge-watched the series, admitting they were left in tears. One true crime fan shared on social media: "This man had five sisters, and they wouldn't give up. They wanted to bring to justice the people who had done it." Another commented: "His sisters did him very proud, bless them. You could still see and feel how heartbroken they are."
The first episode airs tonight (Wednesday, October 28) at 9pm on BBC Two, with the second episode airing next Wednesday (November 4) at the same time. A warning on BBC iPlayer states: "Contains very strong language and disturbing scenes." The series is available to stream in full on BBC iPlayer.
