19 Years On: Gardaí Renew Appeal Over Brutal Murder of Paul Quinn in Co Monaghan
Sunday marks 19 years since the killing of 21-year-old Paul Quinn at Tullyvanus, Castleblayney. No one has been convicted and Gardaí are again appealing for information.
Unsolved Killing of Paul Quinn: Gardaí Appeal to South Armagh Community After 19 Years
Sunday marks the 19th anniversary of the murder of 21-year-old Paul Quinn in Co Monaghan, with An Garda Síochána issuing a renewed public appeal for information, northernsound.ie reports.
At around 6:00pm on Saturday 20 October 2007, Quinn and a friend drove to outbuildings at Tullyvanus, Castleblayney. A gang of between eight and ten masked men, some armed with weapons, was waiting. Both men were tied up, and Quinn was subjected to a prolonged and violent assault. He did not survive.
The gang fled in what is believed to have been a white-coloured van. That vehicle has never been recovered.
In the 19 years since the killing, 23 people have been arrested in connection with the investigation — 14 by An Garda Síochána in the Republic and nine by the Police Service of Northern Ireland. No prosecution has resulted. Gardaí and the PSNI continue to work jointly across the Monaghan–Armagh border.
Detective Superintendent Ronan Carey, speaking on the anniversary, directed his appeal specifically at people in the Cullyhanna area of South Armagh.
"I am particularly appealing to the people in the Cullyhanna area of South Armagh. I am appealing to those men who were in the shed and also to friends or family members of these men who know what happened on the 20th of October 2007 and who, since that time, continue to carry the burden of knowing what happened to Paul on their conscience," Carey said.
He acknowledged that fear may have kept potential witnesses silent over the years, but said circumstances could have changed.
"Time has now passed and the nature of relationships may have changed. I appeal to anyone who was afraid to talk to us over the last 19 years to now come forward. Maybe there was a reason you were afraid, but now is the time to come forward and tell us what you know in confidence," the detective superintendent added.
Carey thanked the local community for its assistance to date, noting that tips received had generated new and valuable lines of enquiry. He asked anyone unwilling to approach a garda directly to use the confidential telephone lines.
Quinn's parents, Breege and Stephen Quinn, continue to be kept informed of developments in the case. Gardaí described the solving of the murder as a matter of utmost priority.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Castleblayney Garda Station on 042 974 7900, the Garda Confidential Telephone line on 1800 666 111, or Crimestoppers Northern Ireland on 0800 555 111.
Source: Google News IE — Crime (en)