Sinn Féin Stormont minister Conor Murphy has apologised to the family of murder victim Paul Quinn for comments he made after the young man's death 13 years ago.
Paul Quinn's mother, Breege, today called on party leader Mary Lou McDonald to sack Mr Murphy as finance minister after she admitted he had been wrong to brand Paul Quinn a smuggler and criminal.
Paul Quinn (21) was beaten to death by a gang of up to 12 armed men in a shed near Castleblayney in Co Monaghan. His family blame members of the IRA, but Sinn Féin has long denied republican involvement.
Conor Murphy released a statement this afternoon, expressing "regret" for the comments he made following Paul Quinn's murder which he acknowledged "have added to the grief felt by the Quinn family".
The Newry and Armagh assembly member said he withdrew the comments and apologised for them and offered to meet the family.
“I have consistently and unreservedly condemned the murder of Paul Quinn," he said.
“Those who murdered him are criminals and need to be brought to justice. I repeat my call on anyone with any information on his murder to bring it to the Gardaí or the PSNI.
“I very much regret comments I made in the aftermath of Paul's murder which have added to the grief felt by the Quinn family.
“I apologise for those remarks and I unreservedly withdraw them. Once again I offer to meet the Quinn family at a time and place of their convenience.”
Read more:Mary Lou McDonald will not ask Conor Murphy to step down over Paul Quinn comments
