THE directors of a company once owned by businessman Sean Quinn who are facing frequent intimidation and threats have been described as “pariahs in their community” by the former owner’s son.

Sean Quinn junior has claimed relations between the management of Quinn Industrial Holdings in Derrylin and the local community is at an all-time low and warned of the potential consequences.

“As the relationship between the community and Quinn Industrial Holdings deteriorates further it appears to me that it is only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured or killed,” said Mr. Quinn, in an exclusive interview with The Impartial Reporter this week.

The remarks by Mr. Quinn come amid heightened tension along the Fermanagh/Cavan Border following an increase in sinister incidents aimed at senior management including three arson attacks in the last number of weeks.

Last month a serious arson attack occurred at the home of Mr. Dara O’Reilly, the company’s chief financial officer, shortly after he and his family had retired for the night at their home in Butlersbridge.

The incident involved a petrol torching of the family car which was parked within feet of the rear of family home, below the bedroom windows where Mr. O'Reilly and his wife and two young children were situated.

The rear of the home sustained some damage from the intense heat of the burning vehicle but further damage was contained by the prompt action of the fire service.

The latest incident comes weeks after a suspected arson attack was carried out by persons unknown at a tyre plant in Belturbet linked to the family of a Quinn senior executive.

“We have repeatedly condemned these incidents in the strongest possible terms. The people that are carrying out these criminal acts are not doing it in the best interest of the Quinn family.

“We're totally against this type of activity,” he said.

Asked if he knew the identities of those behind the attacks, Mr. Quinn replied: “I have no idea whatsoever.”

He refuted any suggestion that all the incidents are being carried out by alleged supporters of the Quinn family, saying: “No, I don’t believe they are all being carried out by ‘Quinn supporters’.”

Mr. Quinn added: “Regretfully there are huge issues between the local community and the directors of Quinn Industrial Holdings and these issues are much broader and more complex than the directors sacking Dad and making false promises to him.

“For example, QIH and the directors have brought legal proceedings against local community members, they have sacked and brought disciplinary action against numerous staff members, they have numerous and ongoing disputes with local farmers while recently QIH announced figures which show staff wages and salaries are down three per cent with director’s salaries up 42 per cent,” he said.

Mr. Quinn said these were “just a selection of the issues between QIH and the local community which has only inflamed an already tense situation.”

He remarked how almost 1,000 people attended a public meeting earlier this year to discuss some of these issues and that nobody from QIH attended.

“The directors of QIH are now seen as pariahs in their community and while Dad has called for calm on numerous occasions these calls have been ignored and as the relationship between the community and QIH deteriorates further it appears to me that it is only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured or killed,” he said.