Jailed Quinn 'saddened' to miss friend and neighbour's funeral
Rodney Edwards • Published 13 Dec 2012 13:00
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JAILED former businessman Sean Quinn is said to be "deeply saddened" following the death of a close friend and neighbour.
Patsy McCaffrey whose family name is as synonymous with the quarrying industry in Fermanagh as the Quinns passed away in Enniskillen's South West Acute Hospital last month.
Mr McCaffrey and Mr Quinn grew up together in Umera, Derrylin and lived "across the fields" from one another. Friends since childhood, both men remained close despite being business rivals.
Father Gerry Comiskey says Mr Quinn, who is halfway through a nine-week jail sentence at Mountjoy Prison for contempt of court, was "very upset" on hearing the news from his son.
"Sean Quinn Junior visited his father in prison and told him that Paddy had passed away. Sean was very much aware that Paddy's health was in a precarious position but like the family and community he did not expect that his death was so soon," he said.
The next morning, the day before his funeral, the chaplain at the training union in the prison arranged for Mr Quinn to speak by telephone to the McCaffrey family.
"Naturally he was very upset to hear of the death, he wanted to communicate with them, he was anxious to talk to them and he wanted to convey his sympathy."
"Sean was deeply disappointed and it did distress him greatly to be cut off from his community following the death of a friend and neighbour. The telephone call was some help to him, though it was a poor substitute to him. Paddy's death distressed him considerably," explained Fr. Comiskey.
This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 13 Dec 12
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