Gardaí are investigating a suspected arson attack on machinery belonging to the Quinn Manufacturing Group in Co Leitrim last night.
The fire broke out at the building site of a new school at Kildonagh near Ballinamore at about 10pm.
Gardaí said slight damage was caused to a crane in the incident. No injuries were reported.
The company condemned the attack and described it as “malicious sabotage”.
In a statement issued today, it said: “Thankfully no one was injured in the attack which was carried out with no regard whatsoever to the safety of innocent people.”
There were several attacks on property belonging to the Quinn Group after it was taken over by receivers in 2011. The attacks included a fire at a sand and gravel quarry owned by the Quinn Group in Co Galway and an attack on former Quinn Group headquarters in Derrylin, Co Fermanagh. A car belonging to the group's chief executive was also damaged.
The company has suffered a further spate of attacks since March 20th including an attempt to burn fibre-optic cables and the cutting down of electricity poles supplying Quinn plants.
The company said today the recent attacks have cost it in the region of €250,000.
“No business can continue to sustain that level of sabotage cost without it having an impact on jobs,” it said. “The question needs to be asked - in whose name are these thugs acting and to what purpose? “
The company called on “local influencers” and community leaders to condemn the incidents and for anyone with information on the matter to “give whatever help they can to the gardaí and to the PSNI in tracking down the culprits and their sponsors”
“We do want to make it very clear that despite these outrageous attacks, our absolute determination is to ensure that these businesses succeed and that jobs in them are secured to the greatest possible extent,” the statement concluded.