COMMUNITY GROUP FORMED TO SUPPORT QUINN QUEST FOR JUSTICE

The Quinn Support Group was formed on the evening of Monday 12th November 2007 by a group of 50-plus people meeting in the home of Stephen and Briege Quinn in Drumlougher, Cullyhanna, South Armagh. A nine-person Executive Committee was constituted under the chairmanship of Jim McAllister. While the majority of those present were from the immediate locality, many parts of South Armagh and the adjoining areas of Monaghan were represented and this diversity is reflected in the makeup of the Committee.

The committee will plan details of a community-based campaign to promote the truth about the murder of Paul Quinn and combat the deliberate campaign of misinformation and slander which began before his body was cold.

The tone of the meeting was understandably emotional as the Quinns and other families gave accounts of beatings and intimidation at the hands of Provisional IRA members over many years, but the overwhelming emotion was determination that all this must now stop, not just in Cullyhanna but throughout South Armagh.

“If we can make this the turning point, if Paul can be the last person to suffer or die, then maybe we can take some good out of this awful murder,” said one family member.

The meeting affirmed that justice can only be sought through the courts of law. The identification of those responsible is a matter for the police investigations north and south. However, the existence of a murder machine which can order and execute sentences of serious injury and death is also a community issue, so support of the Cullyhanna community and the wider South Armagh community will be sought in pursuing the demand for the Provo murder machine to be dismantled for ever.

STATEMENT OF AIMS - QUINN SUPPORT GROUP

We – friends and neighbours of the Quinn family of Cullyhanna and people concerned about public safety in South Armagh – have come together to form the Quinn Support Group.

Our primary objective is to support the Quinn family in their quest for justice following the murder of their son, Paul. Like the family, we are absolutely clear that justice can only be achieved by bringing those responsible for his murder before a court of law. To this end we look to the investigation by An Garda Síochána and we will support and encourage anyone in assisting in that investigation.

We also wish to support anyone in South Armagh who may be the victim of intimidation in any form in relation to this murder or any other incident.

We have no political objectives. Our work will at all times be determined by the needs and wishes of the Quinn family.

We believe:
• That Paul Quinn was murdered by a paramilitary group operating within a local command structure, by the order of that command structure
• That he was murdered because he was deemed to have offended members of that paramilitary group
• That public safety in South Armagh is at risk while that command structure remains in existence.

We deplore:
• Attempts to vilify the character of Paul Quinn by suggesting that he had involvement in any criminal enterprise
• Attempts to deflect blame from the paramilitary group by suggesting that his murder was the work of smugglers or ordinary criminals
• Attempts to label people who have publicly expressed concerns about his murder as ‘enemies of the peace process’.

Subject to the need to protect and support the police investigation north and south, we intend to place all the known facts about this murder in the public domain. The main facts are:
• Paul Quinn was a young man of very modest means with no criminal or paramilitary involvement. As a casual lorry driver he took on work where he could get it.
• He was involved in public disputes about private matters, as a result of which explicit threats were made against him and an exiling order was issued on the authority of a paramilitary organisation
• He was lured across the border and beaten to death by a group of masked man acting under command who made reference to the threats
• His family has very explicitly stated their belief that he was murdered by the paramilitary group.

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