SEAN QUINN - statement on recent threats and intimidation

Sean Quinn has issued a statement on the recent disturbing activity in relation to threats to the QIHL management which he condemns the intimidation but criticises the behaviour of the owners of the windfarm on Slieve Rushen. The statement in full is below:

'Statement from Sean Quinn 21st April 2016

The abusive and threatening signs that have been illegally erected in recent days by third parties on property owned by Quinn Industrial Holdings Limited, “QIHL”, are offensive and unacceptable. They are in nobody’s interest, and are certainly not in the interests of me and my family.

Whilst I appreciate that the local community is very hurt, I believe that the comments on the signs in question are totally unacceptable and I note that they have now thankfully been removed.

My family’s view on this type of negative activity is well known - we have repeatedly made our view clear within the local community over the past number of years, and once more, I, on behalf of the Quinn family, totally condemn any such intimidation.

As is already well-known within the local area, when I was made aware several months ago about third parties having erected a similar sign with derogatory comments about the management team in QIHL, that sign was removed by myself and my son within ten minutes of us becoming aware of it.

I have always criticised the intimidation, however I am but one voice, and I feel that other people that operate within this community should play their part also. For example, the fact that the windfarm in question is no longer owned by the Quinn Group or the Quinn family appears to have been entirely forgotten in the press commentary, and whilst I wholeheartedly condemn the threats, I must also express my own personal view that the current owners of the windfarm need to do more to address the unease and tension in the area.

Windfarm owners 'riding roughshod'

The current windfarm owners appear to be intent on riding rough-shod over the rights of the local farming community. For example, it has been brought to my attention that they are using a roadway that both the local farmers, and the legal department of Coillte, say that the windfarm owners have no right of way on. Equally, it has been brought to my attention that the windfarm owners are using a security firm that has a very questionable record within this community, despite the fact that complaints have been made to the PSNI about the same security firm, and despite the fact that the PSNI have said that they have forwarded a file to the Public Prosecution Service in Northern Ireland. Furthermore, as recently as last weekend, I was informed that the same security firm broke down gates that a local farmer had installed on his own land.

I repeat the Quinn family’s position, which is total condemnation of any act of intimidation, and I urge the windfarm owners to take steps to address the hurt and distrust that has been generated by the actions of their security firm. When we owned the windfarm in question, we treated the local community with the respect that they are entitled to and deserve and the local community responded in kind by returning that respect.

Local farmers

Separately I have already recommended to the US Investor Group and the QIHL Management team that they also need to be mindful of the rights of the local farmers and Coillte, on whom the company is dependent on for extracting raw materials together with accessing rights of way.

It is no secret that I am engaged in commercial discussions with the US Investor Group that acquired the Quinn Group in late 2014, and that this process involves the Quinn Business Retention Company “QBRC” and the Group’s management team. The discussions with the US Investor Group are private and confidential, however I can confirm that they have been constructive and are ongoing.

'Nobody's interest'

I must also point out that those commercial discussions have been unnecessarily hindered by the negative actions taken by some parties regarding the windfarm and by those who have made verbal attacks on QBRC Directors and on the QIHL Management team. Such actions are in nobody’s interest, and they are certainly not in the interests of me or my family. This community and QIHL needs time and space to heal and I have no interest in finger pointing or negative behaviour of any kind.

I also believe that the unfortunate leaking of corporate and personal information to the media and Concerned Irish Citizens has only resulted in negative reporting which has exacerbated and brought confusion to an already tense and complex situation and I would ask those responsible to desist.

These types of negativity simply deepens the hurt and distrust that has plagued the company and the community since Anglo took the Quinn Group away from my family, and as it is wholly counterproductive to my efforts to buy back the Company and I would urge that the negativity is brought to an immediate end.

Whilst I may have differences of opinion with QIHL Senior Management on business matters, I am of the firm belief that those differences can be resolved through the commercial discussions which are ongoing. It has been reported that I have recently hired a third party professional advisor to assist in those commercial discussions and to bring all parties together, and my hope would be that those discussions will be constructive, and that the company I founded and put my life’s work into, could return to being one that people are proud to work for, and customers are happy to support. I would urge all parties to respect the confidential nature of those commercial discussions.'