Arson at former Quinn wind farm

A wind farm formerly owned by Seán Quinn’s family has been targeted by arsonists in Co Fermanagh.

Police said an electrical sub-station at the property on Ballyconnell Road in Derrylin was set alight yesterday evening.

No one was injured but the fire caused substantial damage.

The wind farm is one of a number of businesses in the area once run by the Quinn family that were placed into administration after the tycoon went bust.

A PSNI spokeswoman said: “At this stage, police believe the fire was started deliberately.”

Workers at Quinn Group factories in the area staged a one-day walkout on Monday, following Quinn’s jailing for contempt.

Protesters used agricultural vehicles to block the entrances to cement and glass plants in Derrylin and just across the border in Ballyconnell, Co Cavan.

They called for mediation between the former Anglo Irish Bank and the Quinn family over the row that culminated with Quinn’s imprisonment last Friday.

Protesters have demanded Quinn’s release while the talks take place

The 66-year-old was sentenced to nine weeks for contempt of court for his part in putting the Quinn family’s €500m international property portfolio out of the reach of Anglo, now the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, and a subsequent failure to retrieve the money.

The IBRC claims the businessman owes it a total of €2.8bn.