12/02/2008

Quinn Killing Gets Assembly Debate

An Assembly committee is to raise the the murder of south Armagh man Paul Quinn today.

Mr Quinn, 21, from near the village of Cullyhanna, was beaten to death by a gang after being lured to a farm near near Castleblayney in the Republic last October.

Another man was also attacked by the gang armed with iron bars, but survived.

The Quinn family has consistently blamed members of the IRA for the brutal killing, but Sinn Fein has denied any republican involvement.

PSNI Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde and the Independent Monitoring Commission, have said they believe that IRA members may have been involved.

Police on both sides of the border are reported to be following thousands of leads in their hunt for Mr Quinn's killers. Indeed, gardai, who are co-operating closely with the PSNI, are themselves pursuing 1,200 lines of inquiry into the murder and have taken more than 400 statements.

The Assembly motion, from SDLP MLA Dominic Bradley, notes that the British and Irish governments have made clear they do not believe claims that Mr Quinn was involved in any criminality.

It will also note assessments of Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde and the ceasefire watchdog, the Independent Monitoring Commission, that current and former IRA members may have been involved.

On Thursday, the murder was condemned in the Dail. Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said it was "pre-meditated savagery" and questioned some republicans' commitment to peace.

Justice Minister Brian Lenihan and Sinn Fein TD Caoimhghin O'Caolain called for witnesses to come forward.

See: British-Irish Meeting Highlighting Quinn Murder

See: Quinn Murder Suspects In Northern Ireland

(BMcC)






Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

14 February 2011
Irish Electorate 'Targeted' Over Paul Quinn
The parents of a man brutally murdered in a border tragedy are aiming to make an impact on the Irish Republic's electorate. Paul Quinn, from Cullyhanna, (pictured) was battered to death by a large gang of men - said to be aligned to the IRA - in October 2007, and now his grieving parents are asking the electorate to look at some specific points.
01 November 2012
Quinns Due Back In Court
Sean Quinn and his son are due back in a Dublin court later as the inquiry continues as to whether or not the former billionaires have complied with court orders. Sean Quinn was once the richest man in Ireland, but declared himself bankrupt last year.
01 May 2008
IRA Escapes Blame On Quinn Killing
Despite widespread, cross-border backing of claims by the family of a young man brutally beaten to death last year that the IRA was to blame, the body that monitors paramilitary activity has today said that the republican terror group was not responsible.
15 April 2011
Quinn Barred From Own Insurance Firm
A leading Irish entrepreneur is to loose control of the insurance business he personally founded after it ran into financial problems. Sean Quinn and his family will no longer have any role in the management of the Quinn Group following a restructure.
23 November 2007
Quinn Family Seeks Paisley Meeting
The family of the Paul Quinn, the south Armagh man brutually beaten to death in County Monaghan has asked to meet Northern Ireland's First Minister, Ian Paisley, over alleged IRA involvement in the murder. The 21-year-old was beaten to death during a paramilitary-style gang assault just across trhe border from the young man's home in Cullyhanna.