Quinns claim contempt proceedings are ‘an abuse of process’

The bringing of contempt proceedings against Sean Quinn and members of his family is an “abuse of process” and an attempt by former Anglo Irish Bank to destroy the Quinns’ credibility in advance of their own action against it, it has been claimed.

In the High Court, Mr Quinn, his son Sean Jr and nephew Peter arragh Quinn deny they are in contempt of court orders made in June and July 2011 restraining dissipation of assets pending the outcome of proceedings by the bank related to the Quinns’ international property group, which had assets across Europe, India, Russia, and Ukraine.

In proceedings against Quinn Investments Sweden and others, including Mr Quinn and several members of his family, the bank claims the Quinns were trying to put properties valued at up to €500m beyond its reach. The bank claims it has legitimate charges over those properties, owned via a web of companies, but the family dispute that.