Quinn chief arson condemned as terrorism

AN arson attack at the home of the new chief executive of the Quinn Group has been condemned as a sinister act of terrorism.

Paul O’Brien and his family were not in the property in Ratoath, Co Meath, when his car, home and a neighbour’s house were damaged in a blaze.

Quinn Group — formerly owned by Sean Quinn — condemned what it described as a terrorist attack.

“The perpetrators of this attack have been behind a series of incidents aimed at damaging Quinn Group property and machinery,” a spokesman said

“The incidents began almost immediately after the appointment of a share receiver to the group last April and the removal of Sean Quinn as chairman.

“The personal nature of this cowardly attack represents a serious crossing of the line.”

A BMW jeep in the driveway of the house in the Foxlodge Woods housing estate was burnt out at about 11pm on Monday night, with the front of the O’Brien home and a neighbouring house also damaged.

Gardaí in Ashbourne have appealed for anyone who witnessed any suspicious behaviour in the vicinity to contact them.

Mr O’Brien was appointed as chief executive after Anglo Irish Bank appointed a share receiver and controversially stripped Mr Quinn of his cross-border business.

The bank seized the tycoon’s Quinn Group as it chased €5 billion of family and company debts caused mainly by share deals.

The deal ensured that most of the 4,200 jobs in the manufacturing andinsurance wings were safe for at least five years.

Since then, vandals have targeted Quinn property across the North, causing tens of thousands of euros worth of damage.

“All of the incidents which have taken place since April last are clearly aimed at destabilising the group’s businesses and putting the livelihoods of thousands of Quinn workers at risk,” said the spokesman.

“The board of the Quinn Group is determined that the perpetrators of these attacks will not succeed and we have the full support of all employees, local community leaders and elected representatives in this regard.

“We will not be intimidated by the actions of a small group of thugs and vandals and would ask anyone who has information about their actions to contact either the Gardaí or the PSNI.”

Mr Flanagan described Mr O’Brien as a decent, straight talking man who has the retention of the existing jobs within the Quinn Group as his main motivating factor.

“In these tough economic times, it is difficult enough to run a business without this type of carry-on and people need to realise that if it is not Paul O’Brien who is CEO of the Quinn Group, then someone will simply be put in his place, and they may not have the same interest as Paul does in protecting these jobs,” he added.

“He needs our support to do this, not personal attacks like this.”