Ahern apologises to family about unintended 'slur' on son
Wednesday December 19 2007
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was forced to withdraw a so-called "slur" that linked the murder of South Armagh man Paul Quinn to a criminal feud.
However, despite the concession, Mr Ahern revealed there is still no evidence to back up the belief of Mr Quinn's family that the attack was authorised by the IRA.
The Taoiseach sparked outrage in October when he claimed Mr Quinn's death was "not paramilitary but pertained to feuds about criminality that were taking place".
Mr Quinn (21) was phoned by friends who told him to come across the border to help muck out a barn.
But they had been forced to do so by a gang of up to nine men, who beat him to death with iron bars.
Pressed by the Opposition yesterday, Mr Ahern apologised to the family, stating he did not "in any way" intend to make an issue out of the character of Mr Quinn.
Defending his original comments, Mr Ahern said he had been responding to questions on whether the murder had a political motivation or implications for the North.
"As I previously stated when asked about this matter the only people in this case who are criminals are the ones who murdered Paul.
"I did not in any way intend to make an issue out of the character of Paul Quinn and I am happy to make that clear to the House," he said.
Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern had met the family in Dundalk this week to provide this information to them.
SDLP Assembly member Dominic Bradley said in recent days the "slur of criminality" was causing great pain to the family.
- Patricia McDonagh
