Ulster Unionist Justice spokesperson, Tom Elliott MLA has said that he will seek a meeting with the Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan on the reasons for giving bail to someone charged with offences connected to the murder of Robert McCartney while denying bail to loyalists charged in connection with street protests.

Mr Elliott said: “In whatever democracy you come from a charge that is connected to murder must surely rank as much more serious than that of being involved in a street protest.’

“I am interested in the views of the Judiciary and what they based these recent decisions on, in allowing bail for someone charged with offences connected to murder against refusing bail to those charged in connection to street protests.”

Robert McCartney, a 33-year-old father-of-two, from Belfast 's Short Strand, was stabbed to death outside a city centre bar in 2005.

Another man with him survived after being badly beaten and having his throat cut. The IRA was held responsible for the attack after a clean-up operation swung into action following the murder, with forensic evidence destroyed at the scene.

The Ulster Unionist MLA continued: “If people have possibly broken the law, then there are consequences. However the apparent huge disparity between these cases is unexplained. “Not only must Justice be done, it must also be seen to be done."

“This is not the first notable republican who has been released in recent months. There is obvious concern that Republican pressure has been brought to bear.’

“I want to have discussions with the Lord Chief Justice to establish the basis of judiciary decisions and what appears to be a serious imbalance.”