The Rev Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionists were tonight challenged to spell out what the political consequences will be if a ceasefire watchdog in Northern Ireland claims members of the IRA murdered a 21-year-old man.
On the eve of the Independent Monitoring Commission's latest report on loyalist and republican paramilitary activity, Ulster Unionist deputy leader Danny Kennedy expressed concern about claims the report will say current and former members of the IRA were involved in the murder last October of Paul Quinn in a remote Border region.
Mr Quinn, from south Armagh in Northern Ireland, was beaten to death by a gang on an isolated farm in Co Monaghan.
His family has accused Provisional IRA members. Senior Sinn Fein leaders, however, including the Stormont Regional Development Minister and local MP Conor Murphy have denied IRA involvement.
Following newspaper claims that tomorrow's IMC report will say the Provisional IRA leadership did not sanction the murder, Mr Kennedy said it would be profoundly disturbing if the commission claimed IRA members were involved.
"For as long as the IRA exists, Sinn Fein will be held morally and politically responsible for the acts of IRA members," the Newry and Armagh Assembly member said.
"It is now up to the DUP to explain what they meant by junior minister Jeffrey Donaldson's comments that 'if there is IRA involvement then obviously that has implications for the political process'.
"If, as expected, the IMC confirms IRA involvement, the DUP must clearly state what are the 'implications'."
Just days after the murder, the Rev Ian Paisley and Jeffrey Donaldson warned there would be political consequences if it was established IRA members were involved.
During an Assembly debate in February on a SDLP motion linking the Quinn murder to current and former IRA members, Democratic Unionist MP Gregory Campbell told Sinn Fein there would be political consequences if members of the party were found not to have fully cooperated with the police investigation.
Stormont junior minister Jeffrey Donaldson also demanded the disbandment of the IRA Army Council.
The Lagan Valley MP said: "As I have said publicly, and my party has stated clearly, if, in the fullness in time it becomes clear and apparent the IRA were involved in this murder, that the IRA were involved in sanctioning this murder, then we will not turn our backs on the consequences of that.
"That is why it is important that this issue is dealt with. It is important that the IRA finishes the business that we were told would be finished, when
Gerry Adams said the Army Council would be dealt with to the satisfaction of everyone.
"We need that to happen, Mr Speaker, and to happen now."
PA