Stormont to debate 'IRA murder' claims
The Northern Ireland Assembly is to debate claims that current and former Provisional IRA members murdered Paul Quinn.
The Assembly’s business committee today pencilled in for next Tuesday a debate condemning the murder in the Republic of Ireland last October of 21-year-old Paul Quinn from Cullyhanna, south Armagh.
Mr Quinn was beaten to death by a gang in isolated farm buildings in Co Monaghan after he was lured over the border.
Accusations that Provisional IRA members were involved have been vehemently denied by senior Sinn Féin figures, including local Newry and Armagh MP Conor Murphy.
Last month it emerged that police on both sides of the border have been following over 1,200 leads.
The motion from SDLP Assembly member Dominic Bradley also notes that the Irish and British governments have made clear they do not believe claims that Mr Quinn was involved in any criminality and the assessments of PSNI chief constable Hugh Orde and the ceasefire watchdog, the Independent Monitoring Commission, that current and former IRA members may have been involved.
Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward noted last week while giving evidence to the House of Commons Northern Ireland Affairs Committee that Mr Orde also said the murder did not appear to have been sanctioned by the IRA leadership.
MLAs will also be asked to back calls for people to come forward and assist the police investigations on both sides of the border.
The Quinn murder is due to be debated in the Dail on Thursday.
