Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael)

Everyone in this country is appalled by the brutal murders we have just witnessed. It is with a sense of shock and dismay that people hear the news bulletins once again full of stories of murder on the streets of Northern Ireland. To see two young men, Mark Quinsey, who was 23 years of age, and Patrick Azimkar being brutally taken from their families in this callous way is outrageous. It is a despicable act which must be condemned utterly and totally.

Two soldiers who were simply ordering a pizza were shot as they lay injured on the ground and then shot again and murdered. A 19 year old teenager and a 32 year old Polish man working for a pizza company were used as civilian shields. To see two pizza delivery men who were simply trying to make a living being murdered like this and a statement describing them as "British collaborators" is disgraceful. There should be absolutely no ambiguity about condemning this murder for what it is. These were murders, pure and simple.