Quinn case: warning of 'civil unrest'

Rodney Edwards • Published 2 Nov 2012 13:23 Comments 1 Comment

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An emotional Sean Quinn speaks at a pro-Quinn rally in July.

CONCERNED Irish Citizens, a lobby group set up to support Sean Quinn, has warned of potential "civil unrest" in relation to the imprisonment of the former businessman.

The group's Patricia Gilheany has expressed her concern about Mr Quinn's "confirmed signs of trauma, exhaustion and heartbreak" at a rally held in his honour in Ballyconnell recently.

She told the Irish Independent: "There is civil unrest, but we don't want it exploding in the wrong way. Many have also commented that if Sean Quinn or any of his family drop dead from the sheer pressure and stress that they are being subjected to on a daily basis, there will be very serious consequences for their perpetrators and for those who facilitated this horror."

Although it is something of a different story across the Border, there is no denying the unwavering support that Sean Quinn has in this area.

The streets of Ballyconnell were packed for the first pro-Quinn rally back in July, organised by Concerned Irish Citizens and featuring guest speakers, Father Brian D'arcy and a number of GAA personalities, including; Mickey Harte, Jarlath Burns and Colm O'Rourke.

Fighting back tears, the Mr Quinn made a surprise appearance at the rally and told the thousands that attended: "I apologise, I could get emotional".

Here he was, baring his soul and as he scanned the sea of people below him, many holding placards, many chanting his name, his voice trembled and he said: "I want to thank you all for the support".

"The Quinns will continue to be the Quinns and we will stand by each other," he said.

Last month, a second rally was held for the Quinn family, again in Ballyconnell, and attracted thousands of people.

Ciara Quinn, the former businessman's eldest daughter, claimed the former Anglo Irish Bank had torn her family's lives apart.

"We are just one family of many affected by this dirty, corrupt, toxic bank. We were a very private, hard-working family who never courted media attention, and our lives have been torn apart, as has our life's work."

And in what has been an incredibly ferocious battle between the family and the bank, Ms. Quinn said her family would win their "war with Anglo".

"Someday our war with Anglo will be over, and make no mistake about it, this is a war, and when it ends, I and the rest of my family will still be standing."

Watch Sean Quinn address the thousands of people who turned out to support him at a rally in Ballyconnell back in July.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 02 Nov 12

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Seriously
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Nov 9, 12:05
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Whilst I hope most sincerely that the Quinn Family will be found to have operated their business interests with regard to the highest standards of corporate governance and probity, I find the assertion of potential civil unrest and threats against individuals and organisations repulsive and primitive. What end will this serve? Will it attract inward investment into Fermanagh and the surrounding Border regions? Will it encourage business start-ups and the harnessing of entrepreneurialism within our community? Will it inspire and encourage our young people who are leaving this region in their thousands to stay and or indeed return? Will it give hope and vision to the people of Fermanagh and Cavan? If there was ever a sure fire way to kill potential and hope, this article and the movement behind it and its content is one such threat. I sense a really unhealthy mob culture and mentality building.

Further, I find the positioning of posters around the county at major junctions calling for action in terms for the "victims" of the outworking of the fall of the Quinn empire pathetic and demoralising. Fermanagh needs to look beyond the Quinn era and build the next right answer for the county. I do hope that Sean Quinn will be able to play a major role in the future of the County. However, experience tells us that we cannot put all our eggs in one basket and be Pollyanna like in our expectations for the long-term survival of the enterprise.

Negative energy and vision only ever gets an individual, community, county and nation so far. I want to bring hope, and help shape a future for my children that looks to the possibilities in the global economy.

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