‘Powers that be’ defined by hypocrisy

Those in power in this country have no constructive purpose whatsoever.

Whether it is politicians, business people or other ‘pillars’ of the community, the story is the same: hypocrisy, hypocrisy, hypocrisy.

The Quinn saga is a disgrace of double-dealing, conflicts of interest, and downright lies, all sworn under oath to get those who were hiding their losses off the hook.

There is no reason why Seán Quinn and his friend Seán Fitzpatrick should receive anything other than the harshest penalties, given the taxpayer bail-out for businessmen who knew the risks.

Instead of coming clean and facing the music, the Quinns are engaging in a clumsy and arrogant damage-limitation exercise, while the ordinary Joe Public gets creamed with taxes to clean up a very big mess.

The Anglo-Irish/Quinn affair has been disastrous for this country and the Quinns should not be playing the sympathy bus for their own mistakes as a major shareholder and stakeholder.

What do the Quinns expect?

That the State will forget about the billions owed for a bank still on the rocks?

Did Seán Quinn think that insurance regulations were never going to catch up with him and nobody was going to notice his capital-adequacy problems?

Cleary, Seán Quinn’s priorities were his own fortune, and that of his family, when he was running the business, and this is also true now during legal proceedings for his liquidation as he fights to keep his impressive portfolio of personal real estate.

The Quinns have been kneeling through the rain drops for long enough, along with their dubious banker, Anglo-Irish.

Why should anybody have any sympathy for those who have their own self-interest at heart and their own huge personal fortune — least of all the taxpayer, who will have to carry the can long after the Quinn saga is over.

Maurice Fitzgerald

Shanbally

Co Cork