Sean Quinn Jnr walks free as case adjourned

Sean Quinn Jnr has walked free from the High Court after his three-month prison term for contempt of court expired. The contempt proceedings against him and his father, Sean Quinn, have now been adjourned for two weeks. A new Belfast-based legal team for the Quinns asked the court for more time to prepare a defence in the case. Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne said it was up to the prison authorities to decide on Mr Quinn Jnr's release time as it was not a matter for the court. A short time after the hearing, Quinn Jnr was released and walked from the Four Courts with his wife and family, having served three months in the Training Unit of Mountjoy Prison. Lawyers for IBRC told the court today that there had still been no meaningful co-operation from Seán Quinn Snr to comply with court orders to reverse the asset-stripping of Quinn companies to put assets beyond the reach of the former Anglo Irish Bank. The court was told "nothing had been done and no steps had been taken". Senior Counsel Paul Gallagher also wants the court to consider new evidence of control over companies previously denied by the Quinns. Ms Justice Dunne described the new evidence as of great concern and told the Quinns' new legal team to concentrate on compliance issues in the case rather than historical issues. Counsel for Mr Quinn Snr said his age and medical condition should be taken into account when punitive measures are being considered. However, he said Mr Quinn will say he has been co-operating fully and is willing to do more. The Quinns have also written to IBRC asking if mediation would be possible in the case.