The Irish parliament has been briefed on the brutal murder of south Armagh man, Paul Quinn.

As Mr Quinn's father Stephen and other close relatives looked on from the Dail's public gallery, many cross-party TDs expressed sympathy and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.

Irish Justice Minister Brian Lenihan himself called for people with information on the IRA-linked murder of the young Co Armagh trucker to come forward.

The Minister was opening a parliamentary debate on the October killing of Paul Quinn in a shed in Co Monaghan.

The victim's parents, Stephen and Briege Quinn have led a high-profile cross Border campaign and met the Taoiseach and Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern in Dublin in December.

Mr Quinn's parents have consistently blamed members of the IRA for the death of their 23-year-old son, whom they claimed had defied orders to leave the country by the terrorist group.

However the Irish Government claims the Garda has no information to suggest the attack was authorised by or carried out on behalf of the IRA.

Mr Quinn died in hospital after being severely beaten by a gang of up to a dozen men wielding iron bars and wearing balaclavas and boiler suits.

Mr Lenihan today told the Dail: "It is vitally important that people with information which might help find the people responsible and bring them to justice make it known.

"I include those who may not have been directly involved but nonetheless are party to what could be vital information - I urge them to examine their consciences and to ask themselves whether they can stand by while young men are beaten to death?"

(BMcC)