As one “good republican” waits for 10 January, and the prospect of the Special Criminal Court, the parents of Paul Quinn have met with the Republic of Ireland’s Minster for Justice [new link] Brian Lenihan and, as requested in their meeting on Monday with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern joined them briefly. According to reports, Taoiseach Bertie reiterated what he had told the Dáil yesterday [subs req]
“I am glad to state what the Minister told the family yesterday, that we have no evidence whatsoever that Paul Quinn was involved in criminal activity.” Mr Ahern reiterated that “the only people in this case who are criminals are the ones who murdered Paul”.
And on the issue of ‘corporate’ responsibility..
He also said that “no information is available to me from the Garda Commissioner to suggest this attack was authorised or sanctioned by the IRA, a question I am continually asked outside the House”. Mr Ahern said he was aware “that questions have been raised about the involvement of local people with IRA associates and IRA associations. It is a matter for the police investigation to follow that through and hopefully the killers will be brought to justice as soon as possible.”
Which, with Chief Constable Hugh Orde claiming that
“I think everyone’s fairly clear on this. People who were associated with the IRA at some stage were certainly involved in that crime.”
is as good a point as any to post a reminder of what the Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams had to say back on 22 October.
“I do not believe that there was any republican involvement in this murder. This murder is in our view linked to fuel smuggling involving criminals.
Paul Quinn was attacked and killed on the 20 October.
To borrow a phrase, again, “Justice is the glue that holds society together”..
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