Wait And See If IRA Killed Quinn: Ahern

The brutal murder of Cullyhanna man Paul Quinn in the Irish Republic wasn’t on the agenda at today’s North-South summit meeting.

However, the matter was being raised prior to the high level meeting that involved Assembly First Minister Ian Paisley and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and Irish Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern near Dundalk.

Before the event, Mr Ahern answered Press questions and was asked if the murder of Paul Quinn was believed to be directed by the IRA.

Mr Ahern said: "We have to wait and see the report from the security services on both sides of the border.

"We have to see what is said in the Independent Monitoring Commission report."

Mr Quinn was beaten to death in a savage, prolonged attack with iron bars by a gang in Co Monaghan 10 days ago. His family have insisted that a Provisional IRA gang was responsible.

The killing is also to be discussed in Belfast later this week’s at the N I Policing Board meeting in public. The Chief Constable is expected to answer questions on the level of co-operation with An Garda Siochana on the Quinn murder investigation, among other related issues.

Meanwhile, following calls from Mr Paisley’s Democratic Unionists and the Ulster Unionists for the IRA Army Council to formally disband following the murder, Mr Ahern said he did not think making such demands at this stage was helpful.

"What this illustrates is the need for everybody who has information about this incident to give that information," he said.

"I think that is what we should be concentrating on.

"The political situation has changed because Sinn Fein has signed up to the support for the rule of law and policing and people will be gratified by the remarks made by Sinn Fein members.

"We have changed the landscape on this island and I think we should resist making further demands,” he said.

(BMcC)