Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

I welcome the Taoiseach's commitment to meet the family of the late Paul Quinn. I attended the meeting in Crossmaglen with Deputies Crawford and McManus and I am aware that the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, sent his apologies to the meeting. Not one Fianna Fáil Party Oireachtas Member attended the meeting, although some its councillors were present. The absolute and clear conviction of those who attended was that the IRA had murdered Paul Quinn. It was stated publicly that Mr. Quinn's murder had been the result of a personal difference or altercation. There is no question that he was involved in any criminal activity. There is no "if", "but" or "because" in the case. The facts are that it was a personal issue which would normally have been dealt with by the police.

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