Stephen and Briege Quinn, from Cullyhanna, who insist Provisional IRA members were responsible for their son's death, were due to meet with Secretary of State Shaun Woodward at Hillsborough Castle.

They were being accompanied by SDLP Newry and Armagh Assembly member Dominic Bradley and local councillor Geraldine Donnelly.

Mr Woodward was expected to make a statement later today on the Quinn killing which the Independent Monitoring Commission has indicated involved members or former members or associates of the IRA.

Mr Quinn (21) was beaten to death in a shed in Co Monaghan in October but Sinn Fein denies any involvement by the IRA and no one has been charged.

Today's meeting was the third high level meeting in the last week, following talks with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Justice Minister Brian Lenihan at Leinster House, Dublin on Wednesday and a meeting with Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern in Dundalk on Monday.

In a statement to the Dáil on Tuesday the Taoiseach made clear the Irish government has never held the view that Paul Quinn was involved in criminality of any kind.

The couple said it was also apparent during their meetings that the assessments of the Garda and government do not rule out the possibility of current or former Provisionals being involved in the murder.

Mrs Quinn said: "We are very relieved and very happy in the days coming up to Christmas that Paul's name has been cleared of criminality. It was good to hear it at first hand from the Taoiseach himself and to hear him say that is what they have believed all along. Our Paul was not a criminal.

"The Justice Minister, Mr Lenihan, told us about what the Guards are doing to put Paul's murderers behind bars.

"He said that no resources will be spared. There is no way this murder will be swept under the carpet."