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Mother of murdered south Armagh man Paul Quinn say they "still have hope" 10 years on

Paul Quinn (21) was murdered in 2007
Paul Quinn (21) was murdered in 2007 Paul Quinn (21) was murdered in 2007

THE mother of murdered south Armagh man Paul Quinn says the family "still have hope" that a decade after his brutal killing, they will get justice.

Speaking on the tenth anniversary of his murder, Breege Quinn described how the "pain over the past 10 years has been unbearable".

But she said the family are determined to "keep fighting".

Her comments come as Gardaí and Crimestoppers renewed their appeal for information on the 21-year-old's murder, which also coincides with a review of the case by the Garda Serious Crime Review Team.

Mr Quinn from Cullyhanna was beaten to death on October 20 2007 after being lured to a barn in Co Monaghan in an attack believed to have been carried out by the IRA. The gang used nail-studded clubs and iron bars to beat him, breaking every major bone in his body.

Gardaí said the case is "still an active investigation" and more than 700 statements have been obtained and almost 2,000 individual lines of inquiry pursued.

More than 20 people have been arrested during the course of this investigation over the past 10 years - 14 detained by Gardai and nine by the PSNI.

But no-one has been convicted of the killing.

Sinn Féin condemned the murder, but the Quinn family have repeatedly criticised former Newry and Armagh MP Conor Murphy after he claimed their son was a criminal and the IRA played no involvement.

Mrs Quinn told The Irish News of how their pain at losing Paul is "as raw today" as it was 10 years ago.

"It's just like yesterday," she said.

"They crucified him and that's the part that kills me. You can't control your brain and when I stop I think about what they did to him - it just tears us apart.

"The pain over the past 10 years has been unbearable."

But Mrs Quinn said they will continue to fight for justice.

"We still have hope, you have to live in the hope of justice," she added.

"If you didn't, then where would you be. We have to keep fighting and hoping that the people who did this to Paul are lying in their beds and can still hear his cries for help.

"We live in the hope that someone will come forward or something new will come out."

Garda Superintendent Alan Cunningham said: "It's now 10 years since Paul was murdered and we hope that with the passing of time some members of the public will be willing to come forward.

"We know that there are people out there who have the information to help us solve this case and bring the perpetrators to justice."

Crimestoppers chairman Tim Dalton added: "Even the smallest piece of information, which may seem insignificant, might help with the investigation".

Stephen and Breege Quinn continue to campaign for justice. Picture by Niall Carson/PA Wire
Stephen and Breege Quinn continue to campaign for justice. Picture by Niall Carson/PA Wire Stephen and Breege Quinn continue to campaign for justice. Picture by Niall Carson/PA Wire