IRA murder victim Paul Quinn
During a passionate statement in the House of Commons on Wednesday during Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs), the Foyle MP accused the Sinn Fein MLA of “lying” in an appearance on a BBC Spotlight programme in 2007 when he claimed that Mr Quinn was involved in criminality and smuggling.
Mr Eastwood said if he or another SDLP representative was in Mr Murphy’s position he would resign.
Paul Quinn was beaten to death by an IRA gang in a brutal attack at a farmhouse in Oram, Co Monaghan in October 2007.
He had previously clashed with a local IRA commander’s son.
Mr Murphy publicly apologised to the Quinn family this afternoon and also withdrew his slur on Mr Quinn.
He also offered to meet the Quinn family at a future date.
However, the Quinn family said Colin Murphy should resign immediately.
“Paul was beaten to death by an IRA gang in 2007,” said Mr Eastwood.
“They broke every single bone in his body, so much so, that his mother couldn’t place rosary beads in his hands in his coffin.
“In the aftermath of that the now Finance Minister Conor Murphy said that Paul was linked to criminality, that was a lie.”
Mr Eastwood appealed to Prime Minister Boris Johnson to support his stance.
“Will the Prime Minister agree with me that that lie and that Conor Murphy should retract that lie, publicly apologise and give any information he has to the PSNI about Paul’s murder,” said the SDLP leader.
Mr Johnson replied: “”I think the whole house will hear the passion with which you spoke about that injustice and I can tell him that we will implement the Stormont House Agreement in such a way as to provide certainty for veterans and of course justice for victims as well.”
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