Quinn murder: 'SF response shows progress'

Sinn Féin calls for co-operation with the PSNI in their investigation into the brutal murder of a man lured over the Irish border are a measure of the progress that has been made, Dermot Ahern claimed today.

As he arrived for a North-South summit with Stormont First Minister Ian Paisley and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness outside Dundalk, the Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern said the early indications were that the murder of Paul Quinn was not directed by the IRA.

“We have to wait and see the report from the security services on both sides of the border,” he said.

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

Mr Quinn, from Cullyhanna, was beaten to death by a gang in Co Monaghan 10 days ago.

His family have alleged that a Provisional IRA gang was responsible.

However, Sinn Féin politicians have insisted they do not believe republicans were behind the attack and they think it is connected to criminality.

Following calls from Mr Paisley’s Democratic Unionists and the Ulster Unionists for the IRA Army Council to 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 Féin has signed up to the support for the rule of law and policing and people will be gratified by the remarks made by Sinn Féin members.

“We have changed the landscape on this island and I think we should resist making further demands.”