This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/7376486.stm

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Group clears IRA of Quinn murder Group clears IRA of Quinn murder
(about 7 hours later)
The body that monitors paramilitary activity is expected to say the IRA was not responsible for beating a man to death in Monaghan last year. The body that monitors paramilitary activity has said the IRA was not responsible for beating a 21-year-old man to death in Monaghan last year.
Paul Quinn, 21, died after being lured to a cattle shed and beaten with iron bars and pick axe handles by a gang of masked men. Paul Quinn died after being lured to a cattle shed and beaten with iron bars and pick axe handles by masked men.
His parents said their son had been threatened by members of the IRA in south Armagh. The IMC said the killing was "clearly contrary to the instructions and strategy of the IRA leadership".
Sinn Fein said there was no IRA involvement and condemned the murder. It said it was the result of local disputes and some members, or former IRA members, may have been involved.
The Independent Monitoring Commission will publish its latest report later and is expected to say there was no evidence that the IRA was responsible. However, the commission said there was no evidence that the IRA leadership was linked to the incident.
It is understood the commission will say some, but not all, of those involved were former members of the IRA, but it doesn't believe the attack was planned or authorised by the organisation. Mr Quinn's parents said their son had been threatened by members of the IRA in south Armagh.
Sinn Féin said there was no IRA involvement and condemned the murder.
In a statement, Secretary of State Shaun Woodward said he welcomed the assessment that the IRA remains committed to a political path.
He also called on loyalist paramilitary groups to begin the process of decommissioning weapons.
"The IMC has reported that PIRA remains committed to, and does not believe it will be diverted from, the political path which it has followed for a number of years and that republicans are engaging with the policing institutions and encouraging the reporting of crime in their areas," Mr Woodward said.
He said the group welcomed statements by the UVF last May and one by the UDA in November, saying they were putting weapons beyond use.
"However loyalists will be judged on their actions and not just their words and it is clear that more needs to be done, including the decommissioning of weapons."