Quinn rejects 'offensive' inference

Seán Quinn said he has “no knowledge whatsoever” of the attacks on individuals and properties belonging to the Quinn Group, other that what he has read in the media.

He was responding to comments by Quinn Group Chief executive Paul O’Brien who today called on the former chairman to condemn recent attacks on property belonging to the company and its management.

“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,” Mr Quinn said in a statement released this evening.

Such an inference, Mr Quinn said, was “deeply offensive”.

The Quinn Group founder said he wished 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 he had spoken to the PSNI several weeks ago in relation to “reported acts of sabotage surrounding the Quinn Group”.

“I stated, in clear and unequivocal terms, that persons carrying out such acts were not acting in my name and requested them to cease. These comments were widely reported by the BBC at the time and repeated again yesterday.”

Mr O’Brien said the burning of a car outside his Co Meath home on Monday was the latest in a series of incidents targeting Quinn Group properties and individuals.

Gardaí are investigating the arson attack in which his BMW exploded after it was doused in flammable liquid and set alight. The blast damaged Mr O’Brien’s home and that of his neighbour.

“Certain people want the new management out and they want the original management restored. I think it is as simple and clear as that,” Mr O’Brien said.

"I think they are being orchestrated with that in mind and it's not going away. As the events of Monday night have shown, it's escalating to a very dangerous level where somebody has the potential to be killed," he told RTÉ's News at One.

Mr O’Brien said the attacks started in the immediate aftermath of a receiver being appointed to the group earlier this year.

“I would say … the incidents have taken place in the immediate aftermath of the share receiver being appointed on the 14th of April, which resulted in Sean Quinn losing control of the shareholding of the business and also [his] removal as chairman,” Mr O’Brien said.

He said the new management had the support of the local community and would not be "beaten down by this carry on".