Irish Govt 'does not believe Paul Quinn was a criminal'

Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern has assured the family of murder victim Paul Quinn that the Irish Government does not believe their son was a criminal.

Mr Quinn was beaten to death during a paramilitary-style gang attack at a remote farm in Co Monaghan in October.

His family says 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 Quinn's parents, Stephen and Breege, held talks with Mr Ahern in Dundalk this morning.

Speaking afterwards, Dominic Bradley of the SDLP said the minister said clear that it was not the view of the Irish Government that Mr Quinn was a criminal.

He said this was a major step forward as the slur of criminality was causing great pain to the Quinn family.