PSNI investigates fire at Armagh house

The home of one of the men publicly linked to the murder of south Armagh man Paul Quinn has been attacked four times, the local…

The home of one of the men publicly linked to the murder of south Armagh man Paul Quinn has been attacked four times, the local MP said today.

Newry and Armagh MP Conor Murphy blamed Lord Laird after he used parliamentary privilege in the Lords last Monday to accuse the man.

The Sinn Fein MP claimed a tipper lorry had been burned and the family home again targeted last night.

Paul Quinn (21) was beaten to death by nine men using iron bars at a farm in Co Monaghan last month.

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Mr Murphy said: "There is also a strong belief within this community that this attack is a result of the blatant public finger pointing by those who, in the wake of Paul Quinn's murder, publicly identified this respected family as being involved in the young man's death.

"Those who were and continued to be engaged in this finger pointing cannot disassociate themselves from the consequences of their actions."

The MP claimed the perpetrators were aiming to exploit the brutal murder and were intent on causing intimidation and fear.

Ulster Unionist peer Lord Laird alleged Mr Quinn had been killed as a result of a dispute with the son of a senior republican from the area. He asserted that IRA or former IRA members were involved in his death.

No-one has been charged in connection with Mr Quinn's death.

A PSNI spokesman said at 5am today police received a report that a Scania lorry was on fire at a yard on Donaldsons Road, Crosmaglen, close to Cullyhanna.

The fire service and police attended the scene and a number of items have been removed for further examination.

"Police are treating the fire as suspicious and are appealing for anyone with information to contact them at Bessbrook," a spokesman said.

At 10am police received a report that a kitchen window had been broken in a house in the St Patrick's Park area of Cullyhanna during the night.

There are no reports of any injuries from either incident.

Police are investigating to establish a motive for these incidents and whether or not they are linked.