The Mighty Quinn ought to know when to fold

The grip on the empire controlled by the man who was once Ireland’s richest individual has been prised a further notch open following one of the most dramatic days in the recent history of the Four Courts.

If Seán Quinn ever had any doubt about the forces ranged against his attempts to hold onto his wealth, he will have learned a valuable and painful lesson by the end of yesterday’s proceedings at the High Court.

His only son, Seán Jnr, is languishing in Mountjoy Prison this morning before a likely transfer to another jail where he will stay for the next three months, unless his father makes a better effort at co-operating with High Court orders than he has done to date.