A senior Fine Gael figure has accused the brother of bankrupt billionaire Sean Quinn of dishonouring the role of GAA president.
Party chairman Charlie Flanagan accused Peter Quinn of appearing to stand outside the law and using language from the gutter in a hard-hitting defence of his family.
“Politicians are not beyond criticism, but the uncouth language used by Mr Quinn does not befit a man who was president of the GAA, one of the most respected offices in Irish public life,” he said.
Former GAA president Peter Quinn launched a swingeing attack on financial regulator Matthew Elderfield and Irish Bank Resolution Corporation (IBRC) chairman Alan Dukes, among others, at the latest rally in support of the family in Ballyconnell.
He also attacked politicians including Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Minister for Finance Michael Noonan.
“The language used by Mr Quinn yesterday belongs in the gutter and dishonours the office of Uachtaráin of the GAA, which he once held,” Mr Flanagan said.
“Mr Quinn is happy to be seen in public in Northern Ireland with his son (Peter Darragh) who is currently avoiding the sentence handed down to him by a court in the Republic.
“Our courts are a fundamental pillar of our democracy and the law must take its course. It is highly unsatisfactory that some people feel that these standards do not apply to them.”
Seán Quinn snr, who faces the High Court on Friday to find out whether he will be jailed for contempt over asset-stripping, was in tears at times in front of more than 5,000 hometown supporters at the Ballyconnell rally.
His brother was one of a series of speakers who also included his daughter Ciara.
Peter Quinn also used his 40-minute speech to declare the family will be cleared of any wrongdoing in relation to €2.8 billion of Anglo debts in “an impartial court free from political influence”.
“Neither Anglo nor the media will break the Quinn resolve, neither Elderfield or Dukes, nor Kenny or Noonan or any of the other bollixes in Dáil Éireann, will ever break the Quinns' spirit,” Peter Quinn said.
Mr Quinn and his wife Patricia were in tears as prayers and a poem were read for their jailed son, Seán Quinn jnr.
The family are embroiled in a legal battle with Anglo, rebranded IBRC, over the debts and have taken a counter-case against the bank over a loans deal.
Mr Quinn, his son and his nephew Peter Darragh Quinn were found guilty of breaching court orders to stop putting up to €500 million worth of property assets beyond the reach of the bank.
Seán Quinn jnr is appealing his imprisonment at Mountjoy’s training centre, while Peter Darragh Quinn remains on the run in Northern Ireland.
PA