Ahern: No evidence Quinn was a criminal

FOREIGN Minister Dermot Ahern has said the Government “have no evidence Paul Quinn was a criminal”.

His comments were welcomed by the family of the 21-year-old from south Armagh, who was beaten to death by a gang at a warehouse in Co Monaghan in October.

The minister met yesterday with Mr Quinn’s parents, Stephen and Briege, and Dominic Bradley MLA in Dundalk.

His family has claimed his killers were members of the IRA, but Sinn Féin has claimed the incident arose as a result of a criminal feud over fuel smuggling.

Mr Bradley said: “The minister said very clearly it is not the view of the Irish Government that Paul Quinn was a criminal and I think that is a major step forward for the family.

“The slur of criminality was causing great pain to the family and the minister has very welcomely removed that slur and removed a huge burden of the family.”

Mr Ahern said there is nothing “at this moment in time to suggest” that Mr Quinn’s death was “orchestrated or at the behest of a paramilitary organisation, whatever about maybe members of that organisation being in some way involved”.

Ms Quinn said the purpose of the meeting had been to ask for Paul’s name to be “cleared of criminality” and she was “very pleased” with the outcome.

She said she was “no further on from the day it happened. I can’t move on. I feel broken-hearted and devastated” but added that she and her husband had faith the culprits will be brought to justice.

Mr Bradley said the Garda investigation “is proceeding very well and getting good co-operation from local community”.

In relation to the Garda/PSNI investigation, Mr Ahern said it was an “incredible change to see gardaí knocking on doors in Crossmaglen and Cullyhana. It is vital people come forward and give evidence because for too long people in this area have suffered”.

The minister said the entirety of what happened had to be fully investigated.

“We have no evidence that Paul Quinn was a criminal. We want to find out what happened and bring the people who did this to justice.

“We await the investigation by the gardaí, which I believe is receiving very good co-operation from people of the area but it is necessary for others to come forward.”

He said the geographical area involved has not been “properly policed in 35 years and people are suffering because of that fact. Certain individuals have been able to rule the roost in that area for many years”.

The Quinn family also wants to meet with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in the new year and the minister gave his support to that request.