Quinn loses so bondholders can win

IT IS pitiful to watch Séan Quinn’s empire collapse in front of his very eyes.

There are those who have taken delight in watching his ungracious fall to earth, but why is it that the government did all they could to strip him of his rags to riches wealth in order that bondholders in foreign banks recoup some, if not all, of their losses?

Why should one Irish businessman, who provided employment via concrete works, glass and radiator factories, plus insurance and hotels, that provided a comfortable living for hundreds of his fellow country people, be humiliated and stripped bare in order that foreign speculating gamblers can cash their betting slips? Those who facilitated and managed these bank boardroom sessions have left the scene with their bonus’s intact.

This Fine Gael government is even worse than the last.

If Séan Quinn had emigrated to America and achieved the financial success that he did here at home, and sent donations home to help his jobless compatriots, he would be declared a self-made hero and all sorts of honours would be bestowed on him by our grovelling ministers in thanks for his help.

He was no fly-by-night operator, he never strayed far from his native Cavan in the provision of jobs.

But now some of those politicians and so-called financial experts who would have taken the hand off him a few years ago are now treating him like some sort of pariah.

He was a job creator who took one chance too many and paid the price.

He has to be commended for doing his utmost to protect most of the jobs he created, by trying to do deals with his creditors.

This is a time when we should look after, and respect our own first and foremost, but that is not happening because we have a bunch of gutless politicians supposedly running the country.

Shame on them for what they are continuing to do in our name.

J Woods

Gort an Choirce

Dun na nGall