Local lobby groups behind Sunday's pro-Quinn protest

A COLLECTION of local lobby groups, Concerned Irish Businesses, Concerned Irish Citizens, local business people and GAA clubs organised the rally for Seán Quinn held in Cavan last weekend.

Buoyed by the large crowd in attendance at the rally held on Sunday in Cavan, a march to Dublin may be on the horizon.

Maureen Martin is the chairwoman of Concerned Irish Citizens, one of the groups behind the rally for Mr Quinn that was held in Ballyconnell on Sunday evening.

Ms Martin lives in Ballinamore, Co Leitrim, and was born in Teemore, Co Fermanagh. She works in administration and development in a community project in Leitrim. Concerned Irish Citizens was formed in 2011.

“There were seven people in my family and six of us emigrated and I went to work in Dublin back in the Seventies. There were no jobs in the area and the Troubles were bad at that time. A few years later, Mr Quinn revitalised the area and provided employment,” said Ms Martin.

“We had an impromptu meeting on Thursday night in Ballyconnell after myself and Patricia Gilheaney from the group appeared on Vincent Browne on Tuesday night.

About 30 people were at the meeting. We decided to hold a rally in order to show our support for the Quinn family in light of the abuse and lashing they had received in the media,” added Ms Martin.

Pádraig Donohoe, proprietor of SuperValu in Ballyconnelland spokesman for the Cavan/Leitrim/Fermanagh business group said: “As a group we have met with Alan Dukes and we have met the Taoiseach to discuss matters pertaining to Seán Quinn. In 2010, we held a protest march after receivers moved into Quinn group offices.

“We met with Concerned Irish Businesses and Concerned Irish Citizens in Ballyconnell last week. It was over a number of things but mainly because of the treatment of Seán Quinn jnr, who is in jail. We printed a few hundred leaflets to distribute at the rally but did not anticipate how big the crowd was going to be as it was only three days since it was organised.

“We will put our heads together at the weekend and plan the next action. I cannot confirm what our next move is but there are plans to do a similar rally or march in Dublin.

“We feel that one viewpoint is being put across in the media and we want to put across the other side.”