Claim ‘personal and unwarranted attack’ is smokescreen to deflect from poor performance

AS THE battle for control of Independent News & Media (IN&M) intensified, Denis O’Brien, who holds a 22% stake in the company, said comments about him by the group yesterday were of a highly personalised nature and were totally unfounded.

He condemned the IN&M statement as a “highly personal and unwarranted attack on the company’s largest independent shareholder and appears to be designed to deflect attention from the company’s disappointing stock performance”.

“I have always been, and remain, committed to investing for long-term value for all shareholders and look forward to seeing signs of a similar approach from the board of directors of Independent News & Media,” he said.