An Inconvenient Murder- Just a Temporary Blip

Conor Murphy talking about the Quinn murder:

"I am confident that the republicans I know in that area were not involved in any way, shape or form"

And "Republicans" he doesn’t "know"?
And "Republicans" from outside "that area"?
And what is his definition of a "Republican" anyway?
Someone who’s a member of the IRA would seem a reasonable starting point, you’d think.
In which case, this latest snippet is probably also relevant:

Gardai believe that members of the IRA were behind the vicious murder of a 21-year-old Co Armagh man, it emerged today

Adams, however re-emphasises for the slow-on-the-uptake:

"I do not believe that there was any republican involvement in this murder."

Contradicting the Gardai’s assessment above, but sure, let's give Adams the benefit of the doubt, why does he believe that there is no "republican" involvement...

"This murder is in our view linked to fuel smuggling involving criminals."

Ah right. That’ll be those brave S.Armagh "fuel-smugglers" who operate completely independent of and are completely unknown to the local provo warlords.
But somewhat contradicting the family’s assessment, and I know who I’m inclined to believe.

"But let me repeat anyone with information has a duty to bring that information forward to the An Garda or the PSNI."

Knowing fine well, that under South Armagh’s very own version of the Omerta(and the fear of an informal knee-cap operation), touting to the authorities is something that is simply not going to happen.

Which would also be good news for the DUPes then;as long as the Provos (who were disarmed and discharged personally by Ian Paisley from what I remember) aren’t "corporately" (what, as long they can prove there wasn’t a full share-holders-meeting beforehand?) involved, then’s it back to business as usual tomorrow up at Stormont.
Principled leadership indeed.

"If a gang of 15 IRA men beat a man to death, then it is an IRA murder. No ifs and no buts. Thus the police, without fear of political consequences, must objectively state their assessment."

Jim Allister and he's got no chance.