DUP Seek Answers As Laird Names Quinn Killers

Leading republicans have been named as the killers of Paul Quinn, the south Armagh man brutally beaten to death last month.

Lord John Laird, an Ulster Unionist peer has alleged in the House of Lords that the senior south Armagh republicans were responsible for the murder.

Using parliamentary privilege, Lord Laird claimed Mr Quinn had been killed as a result of a dispute with the son of a senior republican from the area.

He alleged that named IRA or former IRA members were involved in his death.

Paul Quinn, 21, died after being assaulted by nine men in Castleblaney, County Monaghan last month.

No-one has been charged in connection with his death, but the PSNI have said that almost all the suspects and witnesses are resident in Northern Ireland – and not across the border where the bloody killing actually took place.

Now, the DUP is seeking further talks with police after Lord Laird's assertion, speaking under parliamentary privilege, that south Armagh’s "IRA chief" asked to have Quinn executed.

His claim came hours after Independent Monitoring Commission member John Grieve said those involved included members or former members or had associations with members or former members of the Provisional IRA.

East Antrim MP Mr Wilson said his party had requested another meeting with police and would await the outcome of PSNI investigations as well as the next IMC report. His colleague Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson said if IRA involvement was proven the party would seek a meeting with Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Lord Laird said: "Paul Quinn and some other youths from the area were involved in activities which did not go down with senior republican leadership in south Armagh, especially as this new breed of republicans are defying the leadership.

"Several weeks ago the republican leadership, who run most of the illegal fuel laundering plants in south Armagh for the IRA, were asked to have Quinn executed.

"Almost 20 republicans were present at the murder as executioners, look-outs, drivers etc.

"The eight or nine who conducted the execution were dressed in boiler suits and wore surgical gloves.

"All were IRA or former IRA members. It took almost half an hour for Paul to die.

"Every major bone in his body was broken. During the execution he cried for mercy,” Lord Laird told peers during the Home, Legal and Constitutional Affairs debate.

He also claimed that following the murder and the outcry from all parts, a meeting took place in Cullyhanna.

"No-one in the community was to speak to the Garda or PSNI,” said Lord Laird, naming the well know republican who was taking full responsibility for the incident because it was his close associates involved.

(BMcC)