Quinn in bitter clash with new group boss O'Brien after attacks

One-time billionaire Sean Quinn has clashed bitterly with the head of his former business empire as he condemned attacks on staff and property linked to the Quinn Group.

Amid claims by chief executive Paul O‘Brien that someone could be killed if the violence persists, Mr Quinn said the new boss had implied he was interfering in his old business.

Mr O’Brien also accused Mr Quinn of refusing to renounce the violence despite a letter from the board and a subsequent appeal.

Mr Quinn reacted angrily, warning that he has told the PSNI that anyone trying to sabotage Quinn Group property or intimidate staff was not acting in his name.

“I wish to state in the most categoric terms that I have no knowledge whatsoever of any unlawful acts in relation to individuals or property associated with the Quinn Group other than what I have read in the media,” Mr Quinn said.

“When I was contacted by the chairman of the Quinn Group in May to condemn reported acts of sabotage and intimidation, I replied that this was a clear inference that I was interfering in the business.

“In my response I also stated that I found such an inference ’deeply offensive’.”

Mr Quinn, who was stripped of his empire last April, said he spoke with Chief Inspector Sue Steen of the PSNI about attacks several weeks ago.

“I stated, in clear and unequivocal terms, that persons carrying out such acts were not acting in my name and requested them to cease,” he said.

Mr Quinn said his condemnation has been widely reported and was repeated yesterday hours after Mr O’Brien’s home was targeted in an arson attack, the latest in a string of intimidating actions.

The chief executive’s BMW 4X4 was burnt out and windows smashed in his home in Ratoath, Co Meath, which the company branded sinister and an act of terrorism.

The family, including three young children, were on holidays at the time.

Mr O’Brien called on Mr Quinn to publicly denounce the violence before claiming someone could be killed unless it is stopped.

“It is unprecedented that it is a personal attack. The previous attacks have been on the property of the business,” Mr O’Brien said.

“When you go down the route of a personal attack, it’s a much different matter. It’s crossing the line.”

Mr O’Brien took over at the head of the Quinn Group after Anglo Irish Bank appointed a share receiver and controversially stripped Mr Quinn of his cross-border business empire.

The nationalised bank seized the tycoon’s company as it chased €5bn of family and company debts caused mainly by catastrophic share deals.

The deal ensured the vast majority of the 4,200 jobs in the manufacturing and insurance wings were safe for at least five years.

Since then, vandals have targeted Quinn property at sites across Northern Ireland, causing tens of thousands of euros worth of damage, with trucks and diggers set alight and an electricity pole cut down.

“As the events of Monday night have shown, it is escalating to a very dangerous level where somebody has the potential to be killed,” Mr O’Brien said.

The chief executive said he had an idea who was behind the attacks but had to be careful over the security of his family.

He added: “You’d be fairly hard-nosed to say you wouldn’t be scared. But I’d be a strong character. I don’t think you can let people face you down.”

Mr O’Brien claimed the Quinn Group board had written to the former tycoon asking him to condemn the violence but he refused.

Mr Quinn claimed the chief executive had “intentionally failed to acknowledge” comments made to the chief inspector.

He added: “In light of recent commentary regarding the current performance of the group, I can only speculate on the reasons for this but, I trust that the above clarification will allow the Quinn Group board to refocus on running the business in interests of the loyal staff and local community.”