Decision to imprison him ‘speaks for itself’: Kenny

The High Court’s decision to jail Seán Quinn “speaks for itself” and every citizen should co-operate with official inquiries into banking issues, Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said.

While he did not wish to comment on the detail of the case, Mr Kenny said every family in the country was “suffering the consequences” of the banking collapse. In addition, every driver was facing higher premiums because of the necessity for the State to introduce an insurance levy to bail out Quinn Insurance.

“The consequences of the environment and the atmosphere and the decision- making process that passed for banking in this country over a long period of years has led to millions of people — every family — suffering the consequences.

“And I would say this: that in respect of inquiries that are being conducted about banking issues, it does behove every citizen to cooperate fully in that matter.

“The decision of the High Court is one on which I don’t wish to comment and that obviously speaks for itself.”

Asked if he had any personal sympathy for Seán Quinn Mr Kenny replied: “There’s no doubt the Quinn family created obviously a great deal of jobs over the years. But you have to bear in mind as well that, for instance, the consequences of the insurance levy will hit every driver for the next two decades.”

Mr Kenny said he had been following the case and “clearly there was time given to answer questions from the court in relation to the questions that were being asked, and as I say, the court has made its decision… and it speaks for itself”.

But the North’s deputy first minister, Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness, said: “I don’t think anybody that has commented on the career of Seán Quinn has disputed in any way the remarkable contribution that he made towards the employment prospects of people in the border counties... I can’t comment on a court case... other than to say that I think that the banks have an awful lot to answer for.”

Mr McGuinness and Mr Kenny were speaking at a press briefing after a North- South Ministerial Council meeting in Armagh.

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