Fine Gael and the SDLP yesterday demanded that the IRA dismantle all its remaining structures in the aftermath of the murder of south Armagh man Paul Quinn last October.
The demands were made outside the Dáil yesterday by Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny and SDLP MLA Dominic Bradley, following a 90 minute discussion of the murder in the chamber. Mr Quinn's family travelled from Armagh to listen to the debate.
Speakers from all parties, including Sinn Féin's Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, condemned the murder. Mr Bradley said it bore all the hallmarks of the IRA. "It may not have been sanctioned up on high but the point is that those structures still exist and they are still being used to execute murder," he said.
Outside Leinster House, Stephen Quinn, the father of the 21-year-old victim said the family were reassured that all suggestions had now been withdrawn of his son being a criminal.
"Maybe [ Mr Ó Caoláin] is climbing down a bit, but not too far yet. He needs to come the full way and lift [ any suggestion of criminality] in full." Mr Quinn, when asked what Sinn Féin should do, said its members needed to give information.
Mr Quinn also took issue with Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan's remarks that gardaí have no evidence of IRA involvement.
"Ex-members [ of the IRA] or whatever they would be, would have had to be the sort of gang to do it. They were no ordinary people to do Paul to his death."
Mr Quinn was flanked by Mr Kenny, Mr Bradley, Labour TD Liz McManus and his family and supporters as he spoke to reporters outside Leinster House.
Mr Kenny reiterated his call for the dismantling of the IRA. "The Minister for Justice last week confirmed to me that the army council of the IRA still exists, that the Provisional IRA still exists and - while admitting that they have not been involved in terrorist activities since 199 - I question now what is the purpose of the structure of the IRA if you have a peace process that is supposed to defend the rights of citizens North and South," he said.
Asked had he not been reassured by Mr Ó Caoláin's strong denial of republican involvement, Mr Kenny replied: "The fact of the matter is that Paul Quinn lies dead, beaten to death by at least 12 person with iron bars, balaclavas, boiler suits, surgical gloves acting on deliberate instructions. "You can't have this situation of plausible denial," he said.
