Monday, October 22, 2007
“If the IRA were corporately involved in this murder..”
From the Irish Times front page report today, on the investigation into the death of Paul Quinn in County Monaghan
Gardaí believe that a man beaten to death in County Monaghan at the weekend was attacked because he had recently been involved in altercations with a known republican in south Armagh and the son of another republican figure from the area.
And, with former Irish Labour Party Leader, Pat Rabitte, warning of a major political fallout if there was any involvement by the Provisionals, it’s worth looking at a couple of statements in particular. Firstly from DUP’s Jeffrey Donaldson in this BBC report
“If the IRA were corporately involved in this murder, that may mean that the executive is finished in its current form.” [added emphasis]
The other quote to note is in the same report, and comes from the NI Regional Development minister, Sinn Féin’s Conor Murphy.
In contrast to his statement noted yesterday, and repeated in this Irish Times report [subs req], that
“I do not believe that there is any republican involvement in this murder.”
The latest statement from Conor Murphy is
“I am confident that republicans who have been assiduously working on that project - to try and develop a proper and accountable policing service - are not engaged in any other type of activity whatsoever.” [added emphasis]
Meanwhile independent MEP, Jim Allister, has also commented [subs req]
Independent unionist MEP Jim Allister, who resigned from the DUP in March over the decision to share power at Stormont with Sinn Féin, said the Quinn family’s claims about IRA involvement could not be overlooked.
“The suggestion that the IRA killed Paul Quinn requires absolute clarity from the PSNI and the gardaí, with no phoney distinctions being made between ‘organisational acts’ and actions by individual IRA members,” he said.
And from that same report, the SDLP’s Dominic Bradley, MLA, is reported to have linked two other assaults in the area to the Provisional IRA
“The community in Monaghan and south Armagh must work with An Garda Síochána and the PSNI by giving them the information they need to bring these people to justice,” he said.
He believed that the dead man had been threatened by local Provisionals in south Armagh and that the IRA had also been responsible for severe beatings of at least two other individuals in the area.
Adds Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams, on Radio Ulster’s TalkBack today stated
“It will not emerge that the IRA was involved.”
Asked earlier in the interview why he was so certain that no republicans were involved “in any way whatsoever” he replied
“I have talked to one or two people in the area.”
And from the BBC’s Mark Devenport’s blog
Conor Murphy says he’s convinced republicans weren’t involved. But his former colleague Jim McAllister says Conor should have talked to Mr Quinn’s family before sounding so certain.
On the one hand the DUP will argue that they must await the evidence before jumping to conclusions. On the other, those of us who covered the murders perpetrated by IRA fronts like “Direct Action Against Drugs” know how reluctant the authorities can be in declaring clearly that the IRA sanctioned a particular crime when it is not politically expedient to make such a statement.
Pete Baker @ 10:00 AM
I’m surprised that no one has commented on the fact that the Quinn family seem to be represented by leading republican dissident and former SF Assembly member Jim McAllister. It would obviously suit McAllister’s agenda if this was pinned on the IRA, but given the McAllister connection could it be possible this young man was also a dissident and the beating could be related to tensions within those groups?
Posted by on Oct 22, 2007 @ 10:37 AMSo why don’t we wait for the inevitable police investigation that Sinn FĂ©in will inevitably ask it’s supporters to co-operate with?
Meanwhile below this posting there will be hundreds of people who haven’t a clue what happened jumping to the usual conclusions, because it suits their particular political agenda to do so.
Blah blah ad infinitum…
Posted by on Oct 22, 2007 @ 10:37 AMMeanwhile a man is beaten to death, his family accuse the IRA, and wee Jeffrey talks about “corporate” reponsibility as if the Provos held a boardroom meeting to discuss this. Pathetic stuff from Chuckle Brother central but I am sure it will be lapped up by all the usual apoologists for terrorists in government.
Posted by on Oct 22, 2007 @ 10:42 AMJust a thought: “I’m surprised that no one has commented on the fact that the Quinn family seem to be represented by leading republican dissident and former SF Assembly member Jim McAllister. It would obviously suit McAllister’s agenda if this was pinned on the IRA, but given the McAllister connection could it be possible this young man was also a dissident and the beating could be related to tensions within those groups? “
Fair point. I think that the main significance of the Jim McAllister involvement is that he knows the SA provo scene very well. If he says that there was provo involvement (I don’t know if he has actually said that) people will take the view that he knows what he’s talking about.
Posted by on Oct 22, 2007 @ 10:46 AMDaithi
That was prescient of you! :)
Posted by on Oct 22, 2007 @ 10:49 AMThis will probably be the first serious test of whether or not all republicans have accepted the primacy of the state, through the PSNI, for law and order.
Much will depend on the willingness of members of the public giving information needed to bring the brutes responsible for this to justice, whoever they are.
Given that up to 15 people were involved, it would be very hard to keep all of the identities secret.Posted by on Oct 22, 2007 @ 10:50 AMFrom the Belfast Telegraph:
Garda believe the attack had not been officially sanctioned by the former leadership of the Provisional IRA in the south Armagh region.
But they do believe the killers are all former members of the Provisionals, who had set out to demonstrate that they still wield considerable power in the area.
Posted by on Oct 22, 2007 @ 10:57 AMDavid
Off to your well informed opinion againWith about everything but the Army Council structure removed is it really any doubt that people who are involved in criminality kill each other
Posted by on Oct 22, 2007 @ 10:58 AMDaithi0,
You don’t know what happened either but you still commented, a young man was murdered and straight away the republican PR maching come out in force...disgusting…
Posted by on Oct 22, 2007 @ 10:59 AMMy God Sean,
You will defend them no matter what won’t you son??
Posted by on Oct 22, 2007 @ 11:02 AMFrom BBC News:
Mr Murphy said his party had been encouraging people in south Armagh to work with the PSNI.“We have made a very clear statement that that is the way forward in dealing with these things.”
This is not exactly the same as calling on people to give any information they have about this particular heinous act to the PSNI.
I think the DFM better step up to the plate.Posted by on Oct 22, 2007 @ 11:07 AMjoeCanuck,
Thats wishfull thinking mate, with people like Sean and Daithi0 around they would probably think it was a good thing that happened to the young man..just another criminal you see.
Posted by on Oct 22, 2007 @ 11:11 AMThis brutal murder was just plain thuggery. Peanut brained bully boys at it again.
McAllister was on Pat Kenny this morning discussing the incident. He said it was revenge for about 2 previous altercations between the victim and a relative of republicans.Posted by on Oct 22, 2007 @ 11:12 AMJim McAllister seems to know plenty about this. Why doesn’t he go to the police with any information he has rather than throwing about all this speculation on the media?
This was a brutal murder - plain and simple - by a gang of thugs and criminals.
Posted by on Oct 22, 2007 @ 11:18 AMrob
My comments were reserved for the whatabouters here who are quick to point the finger, not because they know anything, they know what the rest of us do, and they’ve learned what little they know from tittle-tattle in papers written by hacks that don’t know either!
I didn’t comment about the sad death of a young man whose family I sympathise with at this time, and furthermore I won’t comment, this terrible incident is clearly a matter for the police.
Thankfully the days of internment without trial and kangaroo courts are behind us. Sadly it won’t stop people throwing shit, hoping some of it sticks.
Posted by on Oct 22, 2007 @ 11:19 AMHow naive or downright stupid of Gerry Adams on Talk Back to rule out categorically the possibility that the people who did this were Republicans.
Yet more Shinner arrogance that expects people to take Gerry’s word as gospel… maybe once…, but not anymore.
Posted by on Oct 22, 2007 @ 11:21 AMBut Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams today denied republican involvement and called on anyone with information about the murder to make it available to police on both sides of the Border.
He said he was deeply shocked and claimed the death was linked to fuel smuggling involving criminals. Mr Adams added: “The criminals responsible for this dreadful killing must be brought to justice. I do not believe that there was any republican involvement in this murder.”
Thankfully that’s a very clear call to go to the PSNI.
Posted by on Oct 22, 2007 @ 11:26 AMDaithi0,
If you weren’t going to comment on this murder why did you try and make out that it would be used for political reasons by ohter commenters, and why did you comment on internment, to be honest I wish it would be brought back, just for people who murdered this young man, what do you think?
Posted by on Oct 22, 2007 @ 11:33 AMmaybe republicans believe if they go back to violence they will get the 1.2 million pound from Margaret Richie!
Posted by on Oct 22, 2007 @ 11:37 AMRob, I think the death of this young man is a matter for the police. If it was murder then justice should be done.
Now, if you want to discuss internment or anything else please feel free to e-mail me.
You are the one talking about the people who “murdered” that young man, so if you know the facts please either share them with us, or tell the PSNI.
Fair enough?
Posted by on Oct 22, 2007 @ 11:38 AMJoe
No matter how the BBC covered it, Conor Murphy’s call on the radio this morning was clear and unequivocal. He stated he condemned the murder and called on people to contact the GardaĂ or PSNI with information about the crime.We wont ever free ourselves from our past if we cannot stop associating brutal crimes with political or paramilitary associations. Treat them for what they are, and take a zero tolerance approach to organised crime and criminals.
Using this as another political tool to try and destabilise our government may be amusing to some, but devastating to those of us trying to live, work and survive here.
Posted by on Oct 22, 2007 @ 11:40 AMDaithi0,
Why did you type ‘murdered’, he was wasn’t he, or did he slip and hurt himself. The fact of the matter is, Republicans killed this young man and you are trying to take the responsibilety away from them by putting staw men up.
Posted by on Oct 22, 2007 @ 11:44 AMThank’s for letting me know that Missfitz.
I think it was irresponsible for the BBC not to have reported that.Posted by on Oct 22, 2007 @ 11:44 AMmissfitz
WELL SAID !!
Posted by on Oct 22, 2007 @ 11:45 AMJust the same old story from our politicians. The Assembly Gravy Train has left the station and no one aboard wants to derail it!
After all we still await a statement from Papa Doc concerning his letter to the Heritage Lottery Fund about the Causeway Visitors Centre. Why are the other Parties not revelling in his obvious discomfort?Posted by on Oct 22, 2007 @ 11:47 AM
