McCartney reaction: Members of the family of Robert McCartney have said they do not believe yesterday's IRA statement will alter the activities of "volunteers" on the streets of nationalist communities in Belfast.
Catherine McCartney (37) said vigilante and criminal behaviour were likely to continue despite the statement which directed volunteers to lay down their arms and engage in political activity only.
"I don't think it will bring about much change. While they're saying this at high political level, I don't see any evidence that it will change anything on the ground," Ms McCartney said.
"The real test will be whether people in communities will feel free to go forward and engage with the police if an IRA volunteer commits a crime.
"Or will people still feel afraid to go forward? That can only be answered in the weeks and months ahead. But it's hard to see how that statement can translate into reality on the ground."
Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has declined to interpret the IRA statement in relation to the involvement of "volunteers" in criminal activities.
He told a news conference: "When the statement talks about 'democratic and peaceful means', I think it is clear. What part of 'any activity whatsoever' do readers not understand?"
Ms McCartney, however, said it was a "reality" that certain elements of the IRA were involved in criminal and vigilante activity, and that the communities still felt compelled to protect them.
She also expressed disappointment that the statement did not directly address the issue of criminality. She feared that failure to deal clearly with the issue meant many people in nationalist communities were uncertain of how to interpret the statement.
"I'm disappointed the IRA didn't clarify that issue. In our case there are still witnesses out there who hold crucial information who are afraid to go to the police.
" It's not necessarily because they have a problem with the police, but because they believe people involved in Robert's death were very much involved in the republican movement and are playing the role of vigilantes.
"The IRA expelled three members [ following Mr McCartney's death], but there are at least 10 others. And nothing has been done about them," she said.
"I heard Martin McGuinness talking about how some 'volunteers' may feel ostracised over the years, but we're the only ones in this community who feel alienated and ostracised."
Mr McCartney, a father-of-two, was battered and stabbed in an alley outside Magennis's bar near the Markets area of south Belfast on January 30th. The PSNI's investigation into the death has been hampered by a lack of information from witnesses to the killing, according to the McCartney family.
Last month a 49-year-old man appeared in court, charged with the murder of Mr McCartney. A second man was charged with the attempted murder of Mr McCartney's friend, Brendan Devine, on the same night. Both men have been remanded in custody.
The five McCartney sisters have been behind a campaign which has seen them travel to Europe and the White House in an attempt to bring Mr McCartney's murderers to justice.