Police are investigating an incident in which a lorry was apparently driven into a staff canteen at bankrupt businessman Seán Quinn's former Quinn Group headquarters in Derrylin, Co Fermanagh, last night.
Police are investigating an incident in which a lorry was apparently driven into a staff canteen at bankrupt businessman Seán Quinn's former Quinn Group headquarters in Derrylin, Co Fermanagh, last night.
The lorry was backed into the building, leaving a large hole in a wall. The building was not occupied and there were no injuries. Part of the roof is now being held up by props.
The lorry was later found burned out by the PSNI.
The PSNI has issued an appeal for information. “Police are appealing for witnesses following an incident of criminal damage to a commercial premises in the Ballyconnell Road area of Derrylin," a spokesman said. “Anyone who noticed any suspicious activity at approximately 6pm is asked to contact Enniskillen police station.”
Staff at the Derrylin, Co Fermanagh, manufacturing and insurance firm said the damage was not helping their fight to save jobs.
One worker said: “The people behind this do not represent those who work here, this does not help us save jobs.”
John Maguire, who represented the Concerned Irish Business Group which supports Quinn, 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 Sean Quinn and his local staff and it is unfortunate that what has happened has happened.”
Sinn Féin MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone Phil Flanagan condemned those responsible for the incident and urged them to halt their campaign.
"These people have 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,” he said. "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.”
Quinn Group properties have been the target of several arson attacks since a share receiver was appointed in April.
A vehicle belonging to Quinn Group chief executive Paul O’Brien was set on fire in August, while a number of lorries were damaged by a fire at a sand and gravel quarry owned by the Quinn Group in Co Galway last month.
Mr Quinn is involved in a Belfast court battle to have his bankruptcy overturned. Speaking to reporters outside the High Court in Belfast on Tuesday, the former billionaire said he was determined to return to business and to do so from Derrylin, the village he comes from.
The bank controlling the business, now known as the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation (IBRC), has been in court in Belfast this week attempting to have Mr Quinn‘s bankruptcy in Northern Ireland set aside.
The former tycoon (65) was reputedly once worth more than €4.5 billion.
He lost control of his manufacturing and insurance business in April but has challenged the bank’s claims over his debts.
At the time of his bankruptcy the IBRC said Mr Quinn and his family owed €2.9 billion.
Additional reporting: PA