POLICE HAVE appealed for witnesses after another attack on the property of the Quinn Group in Co Fermanagh. A lorry was backed into the staff canteen of Seán Quinn’s former headquarters outside Derrylin on Wednesday night.
Considerable damage was caused to the building in this latest attack on Quinn Group property. Police said shortly after 6pm on Wednesday a vehicle was taken from the rear of the Quinn Group premises and driven into the front of the canteen, which is located on the Ballyconnell Road, a few miles outside Derrylin.
The vehicle was driven a short distance away before being set alight and destroyed, according to the PSNI. Investigating detectives appealed for anyone with information to come forward.
Since Mr Quinn lost control of his company in April there have been more than a dozen attacks on Quinn Group property and against the new management that took over. Mr Quinn has previously condemned these attacks.
The most serious incident was in August when the home of the Quinn Group’s new chief executive, Paul O’Brien, was the target of an arson attack. He warned jobs would be endangered if these incidents continued.
The cost of the overall damage is estimated at more than £1 million (€1.2 million).
The Quinn Group employs 1,150 along the Border between Derrylin, in Co Fermanagh, and Ballyconnell, in Co Cavan.
John Maguire, who represented the Concerned Irish Business Group, said the destruction would help nobody. “It is time for reflection, cool heads and common sense to prevail on all sides,” he said.
“Physical damage to property or anything else won’t solve this.
“Nobody has worked harder for the local community than Seán Quinn and his local staff, and it is unfortunate that what has happened has happened.”
Local Sinn Féin Assembly member Phil Flanagan said those responsible had “no regard for the current employees of the Quinn Group and any attempt to portray this as an action on their behalf will simply not wash”.
“This type of activity, along with the previous attacks, have no support in the local community; the people in this area want to see the existing jobs within the Quinn Group retained, and this ongoing campaign of destruction will not help that in any way,” he added.
“Not only was a lorry destroyed, but a facility used by members of staff from all levels of the Quinn Group was targeted. Those responsible really need to take a good long look at the consequences of their actions, and they must stop such activity immediately,” said Mr Flanagan.
