Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)

I wish to share time with Deputy Sherlock.

The murder of Paul Quinn in County Monaghan on 20 October last left a family bereaved and a community shocked and created huge political reverberations in the Monaghan and Armagh areas. Appalling as it was, the murder of Paul Quinn was only one of many shocking and brutal killings we have witnessed on this island in the past 35 years. Why should his death have received such public attention when so many other equally brutal murders have been forgotten? Part of the reason that this murder has created such an impact on the public consciousness is the cruel and premeditated nature of the killing. Even more so, it is that Paul's murder took place at a time when we all hoped that we had seen the last killings of this type and when the people of south Armagh and north Monaghan in particular hoped that their communities had at last been freed from the blight of terrible violence that had taken such a toll.

Let us recall the basic facts of the case as we know them. On Saturday, 20 October last, a group of young men were forcibly taken by an armed gang to an isolated shed in a remote area of north Monaghan. One of them was forced to phone his friend, Paul Quinn, asking him to come to the shed on the promise that there was some work available. When Paul arrived he was taken captive and removed to another smaller shed. Over a prolonged period his friends heard the sickening thud of iron bars and nailed cudgels on human flesh and his futile cries for mercy. Then there was silence. When his friends managed to free themselves they found Paul Quinn, his body broken and brutalised, still barely alive but clearly in a very critical condition. Despite the prompt arrival of an ambulance and the best efforts of medical staff, Paul died in hospital in Drogheda later that evening.

More than three months later, no one has been brought to justice for this shocking crime. The family and friends of Paul Quinn immediately claimed that well known members of the Provisional IRA had been responsible for his murder. Leading Republican figures at local and national level denied this. However, these denials were accompanied by a cynical campaign to denigrate the reputation of Paul Quinn. Not content with taking his life, those responsible were also determined to take his character.

The family and friends of Paul Quinn have since organised a vigorous campaign to ensure that his death is not forgotten and that those responsible are brought to justice. With a number of other Members, I attended a packed and passionate public meeting shortly before Christmas in the community centre in Crossmaglen, which was organised by the Campaign to Secure Justice for Paul Quinn. As local people expressed their anger about what had been done to one of their own, I was reminded of the words of Pádraig Pearse, "beware of the risen people".

Those who spoke were in the main people from the local community and the vast majority were absolutely certain members of the Provisional IRA had murdered Paul Quinn. Historically, Crossmaglen is in the middle of a republican heartland but there was particular anger directed at local Sinn Féin representatives.

Speaker after speaker got up and told of their own experiences over 35 years of violence. They spoke of things they had to put up with at the hands of the IRA and the security forces during the course of what they described as "the war". They said with one voice that enough was enough, they wanted no more killings and they wanted the killers of Paul Quinn brought to justice. Given the traditions in the area, I was struck by the extent to which people were prepared to urge those with any information on the killing to hand it over to the PSNI.

I have little doubt members of the Provisional IRA carried out the attack on Paul Quinn and were responsible for his murder. I do not know if the murder was sanctioned at a higher level but regardless of this, the provisional movement has an obligation to face up to its responsibilities.

There are some striking parallels with the murder of Robert McCartney in Belfast three years ago, for which members of the Provisional IRA were also responsible. On that occasion also, there were condemnations from provisional leaders, sympathy for the McCartney family and public pleas to co-operate with the PSNI.

Despite the fact that there were a large number of people in a public place involved in the McCartney murder, just one person has been charged with murder and two others with affray. When push came to shove, those who knew who killed Robert McCartney, those who witnessed his murder, were unwilling to co-operate with the PSNI. This must not be allowed to happen in the case of Paul Quinn.

I accept the transition from paramilitarism to democracy will not always be smooth. There will be slip-ups along the way and errors of judgment made. I also acknowledge the significant progress made in the political process in Northern Ireland and the changes brought about by the leadership of the republican movement. It took longer than we would have liked but the achievement of decommissioning and the effective standing down of the IRA cleared the way for the restoration of the Assembly and Executive in Northern Ireland.

There is now a choice to be made by members of the provisional movement. Do they stand with the murderers of Paul Quinn or do they stand with the Quinn family and the people of south Armagh? Are they prepared to go beyond paying ritual lip service to the principle of co-operation with the lawfully established police authorities, set up under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice and convicted?

We sign up for the full democratic package or not at all, as one cannot be half a democrat. Failure to ensure the murderers of Paul Quinn are brought to justice will rekindle doubts about the bone fides of republican leaders.

I cannot let this occasion pass without making some reference to the injudicious comments made by the Taoiseach in the aftermath of the killing in which he clearly implied that Paul Quinn had been involved in criminal activity. I do not know if the Taoiseach had been poorly briefed or if his desire not to do anything to destabilise the delicate political position in Northern Ireland clouded his judgment. However, the result of his comments was to play into the hands of his killers, provide ammunition for those who wanted to denigrate Paul Quinn and add enormously to the trauma of the Quinn family.

In fairness to the Taoiseach, six weeks later he eventually withdrew those comments and publicly stated that Paul Quinn was not involved in criminal activity, but these groundless comments should never have been made in the first place.

I again extend my sympathy to the Quinn family. I hope this debate will in some way assist the process of achieving justice for them.

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