Anglo de-Quinning firms, claims family

THE family of businessman Seán Quinn say they are suffering “unjust and discriminatory” targeting as part of a “de-Quinning” of their businesses.

In a statement, the family say they are being “targeted” by Grant Thornton, the accountancy appointed as administrators, and by Anglo Irish Bank.

The statement said that, in recent weeks, four members of the Quinn family have “either been sacked, made redundant or constructively dismissed”.

The four individuals are:

* Ciara Quinn, “sacked while on maternity leave” which lasted 52 weeks, details of which were outlined in “two wholly inappropriate emails” by management to 1,600 staff.

* Seán Quinn junior, who was the only person to be made “compulsory redundant” and is “initiating” High Court proceedings.

* Brenda Quinn, who has already initiated proceedings against Quinn Insurance alleging “victimisation in the workplace”.

* Colette Quinn, “asked to resign” from various positions in the Quinn Group last week “while on maternity leave” with a child born in February.

“The ‘de-Quinning’ is not isolated to Quinn Insurance and is now evident throughout the group,” the family’s PR firm said.

“The Quinn family believe these actions are intimidatory, unfair, illegal and an abuse of power by court-appointed officials and Anglo Irish Bank.”

A spokesperson for Anglo could not be reached last night.

The Quinn family comments came a day after reports that Ciara Quinn is considering whether to take legal action over her removal from the business. She previously sought an injunction allowing her to return to work.

The Quinns and Anglo are due to meet in court in September in relation to an application by Anglo to stop Seán Quinn and his family transferring assets between some of their foreign firms.

This would be contrary to an interim injunction which Anglo alleges the Quinns broke.

Anglo is owed approximately €2.8 billion by the Quinn family, with more than €2.3bn of this figure loaned to Seán Quinn to buy shares in the bank.

Anglo is taking the action against companies in Sweden, Cyprus, Russia and Ukraine as well as individual family members.