Four more arrested in connection with deaths of Quinn brothers

Four more people were arrested yesterday by police investigating the murders of three young brothers in their home in Ballymoney…

Four more people were arrested yesterday by police investigating the murders of three young brothers in their home in Ballymoney, Co Antrim, at the weekend.

This brings to seven the number now in police custody. Two men were arrested on Thursday and one on Monday. Another man who was detained for questioning on Monday was released without charge on Wednesday.

Richard (11), Mark (10) and Jason Quinn (9), died when their home in Carnany Park in Ballymoney was petrol-bombed early on Sunday morning. Police say the attack was sectarian. The estate is predominantly Protestant, and it is believed the family was targeted because the boys' mother, Christine Quinn, is a Catholic.

The Mayor of Ballymoney, DUP councillor Mr Frank Campbell, said yesterday that the council would consider building a Garden of Remembrance as a memorial to the three brothers.

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Mr Campbell said the idea for the Garden of Remembrance was first suggested by residents of the Carnany estate and that it would be discussed at a council meeting on Monday night.

It also emerged yesterday that efforts are being made to set up a forum in the town to help improve community relations in the aftermath of the children's murders.

The borough of Ballymoney takes in the nationalist village of Dunloy where there have been disputes between residents and the loyal orders over contentious parades. On the Tuesday night after the start of the Drumcree stand-off, up to 1,000 Orangemen blocked roads and laid siege to Dunloy for three hours.

Mr Malachy McCamphill, an SDLP councillor from Dunloy, said there was "an undercurrent of sectarianism" throughout the borough over different issues, and that councillors felt they had "to take a lead in doing something positive" after the children's murders. "We want to get as many people as possible on board," he said.

The mayor, Mr Campbell, said he would have no objections to such a forum, and that he would like to see community leaders and business people involved. The proposal to set up a community forum is likely to be discussed at Monday's council meeting. If approved, Ballymoney would be the first area to follow Derry's lead in establishing a cross-community forum to help improve community relations and to resolve disputes over parades.

Two separate funds opened to help the Quinn family are now to be amalgamated. A community group in the Carnany estate set up one of the funds, while the other was opened by the Bank of Ireland in response to requests in branches throughout the Republic from people who wanted to donate money.

Ballymoney Council has decided that books of condolences for the Quinn children, which were due to close yesterday, will now remain open next week because of the large number of people wishing to sign them. Belfast City Council has not opened books of condolences but has sent a letter of sympathy.