Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland

'Campaign of sabotage': Former Quinn HQ in Derrylin attacked

The Quinn Group was rebranded as Aventas Group – its headquarters in Derrylin was attacked last night.

THE HEADQUARTERS OF the former Quinn Group – now named Aventas Group – was attacked last night as part of what has been described as a ‘campaign of sabotage’.

This morning, Aventas Group released a statement saying that at approximately 10.50pm last night, two individuals drove through the bollards at its headquarters in Derrylin in a locally owned oil tanker.

They reversed the tanker three times into the doors of one of the buildings, set the cab of the tanker alight and fled in a car driven by a third person, said the company.

Aventas said:

Thankfully no one was injured and the building did not catch fire. The tanker fire was put out by the local fire brigade. We are very grateful to the PSNI for their prompt response and to the local fire brigade especially given the ever present danger of a tanker explosion.

The company described it as a “moronic attempt to disrupt our business” but said its contingency plans were activated immediately and all its businesses and services are operating as normal this morning.

Aventas said that this latest incident “is part of a continuing campaign of sabotage, intimidation and vilification against this company and certain of its employees”.

We are aware that all of these criminal activities are orchestrated by a minority group and their sponsors outside our business, but in the local community. These people have a concerted agenda to undermine and destabilise our business with their own misguided and self-interested agenda in mind.

It said some of these people have expressed ‘concerns’ but “they have no regard for the impact such activities could have on our employees’ jobs and on the local economy which is so dependent on our businesses”

The group changed ownership nearly three years ago, and Aventas said that with the continued support of its employees, “we continue to face down this misguided minority with resolute determination”.

Read: Attacks on Quinn Group electricity poles condemned>

Read: Quinn Group premises damaged in arson attack>

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
40 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John
    Favourite John
    Report
    Dec 12th 2013, 12:21 PM

    These Quinn apologists should be jailed for attempted murder!

    149
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Nugent
    Favourite James Nugent
    Report
    Dec 12th 2013, 12:36 PM

    It happened at 11 o clock at night , way past working hours . No reports of anyone in building how would it be attempted murder ? However they should be jailed for a long time for damage, intimidation and trespass

    61
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute GatheringYourMoney13
    Favourite GatheringYourMoney13
    Report
    Dec 12th 2013, 2:35 PM

    I wonder who is responsible?
    Did anyone try asking the security firms who have benefitted handsomely from quinn’s demise ?

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute legoman❗
    Favourite legoman❗
    Report
    Dec 12th 2013, 12:22 PM

    Who cares. Another one that lined his own pockets and won’t admit where all the money is.

    98
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Lawlor
    Favourite Paul Lawlor
    Report
    Dec 12th 2013, 1:48 PM

    Fancy weddings & wellies!

    31
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Nugent
    Favourite James Nugent
    Report
    Dec 12th 2013, 12:33 PM

    Hope these idiots are caught and punished. The Quinn family has on numerous occasions asked for this to stop and said these people are not acting in their name.

    71
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute MrKnow
    Favourite MrKnow
    Report
    Dec 12th 2013, 12:53 PM

    Can I ask for the insurance levies added to my premium every year because of quinns stupidity to stop? Didn’t think so.

    82
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mitch Connor
    Favourite Mitch Connor
    Report
    Dec 12th 2013, 12:55 PM

    I’d be chuffed if we got the levy on every insurance policy back from the Quinns.

    By way of apology for their shady dwalubgs.

    45
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mitch Connor
    Favourite Mitch Connor
    Report
    Dec 12th 2013, 1:12 PM

    Why did Android think that when I typed “dealings” I meant to say “dwalbugs”?

    36
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mitch Connor
    Favourite Mitch Connor
    Report
    Dec 12th 2013, 12:32 PM

    I’m sure he got a great deal on property insurance though.

    67
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Cotrulia
    Favourite Paul Cotrulia
    Report
    Dec 12th 2013, 12:59 PM

    Mindless act that will benefit no one

    63
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Carcu Sidub
    Favourite Carcu Sidub
    Report
    Dec 12th 2013, 2:41 PM

    Whose mindless acts?

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Emma Dooley
    Favourite Emma Dooley
    Report
    Dec 12th 2013, 1:21 PM

    This behaviour is only going to get worse and im not suprised.. Quinn workers were treated with respect and dignity and since these new companys have came into force all workers have had the prospects off losing theirjobs.. I feel sorry for the people in the North this christmas and i feel sorry for Sean Quinn.. absolute disgrace what was done to him.

    62
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute SMcB
    Favourite SMcB
    Report
    Dec 12th 2013, 1:24 PM

    Just to clarify.. Do you condone this ‘behaviour’?

    42
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Emmet Galvin
    Favourite Emmet Galvin
    Report
    Dec 12th 2013, 1:31 PM

    What was ‘done to him’?

    41
    See 16 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Emma Dooley
    Favourite Emma Dooley
    Report
    Dec 12th 2013, 1:33 PM

    Of course not but we can all see why this is happening?

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Terry McDonald
    Favourite Terry McDonald
    Report
    Dec 12th 2013, 1:41 PM

    I’m interested in this too. What exactly was “done to” Sean Quinn?

    52
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Lawlor
    Favourite Paul Lawlor
    Report
    Dec 12th 2013, 1:50 PM

    The big capitalist got too big! Ha ha.

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mitch Connor
    Favourite Mitch Connor
    Report
    Dec 12th 2013, 1:55 PM

    What was done to Quinn?

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sheik Yahbouti
    Favourite Sheik Yahbouti
    Report
    Dec 12th 2013, 2:16 PM

    Emma, I actually feel sorry for you.

    35
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brendáin MacShíomáin
    Favourite Brendáin MacShíomáin
    Report
    Dec 12th 2013, 2:17 PM

    The State had the cheek to prosecute him for breaking the law. The absolute cheek.

    34
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Emma Dooley
    Favourite Emma Dooley
    Report
    Dec 12th 2013, 2:25 PM

    @Emmet, Terry and Mitch.. what was done to him was his company’s were taken off him before the legitimacy off debts was established. In other words Anglo took over his company’s on the back off illegal loans ( criminal charges against Anglo next months against Anglo Director) if the courts find these loans to be illegal the Irish government tried to profit from a crime and than Mr. Quinn’s company’s will be wrongly taken off him.

    40
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Emma Dooley
    Favourite Emma Dooley
    Report
    Dec 12th 2013, 2:29 PM

    State never prosecuted Quinn, he was in jail for civil contempt off court. No criminal charges, no criminal record against any member of the Quinn family. Only people charged in relation to this whole saga is from Anglo. (Fitzpatrick, Whealen and McAteer)

    37
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute SMcB
    Favourite SMcB
    Report
    Dec 12th 2013, 2:31 PM

    Sorry Emma, I can’t see why it’s happening. Sean Quinn was the architect of his own downfall. No one else; no one made him gamble billions on Anglo shares exactly like no one forces me to stick a grand on the 2.45 at Chepstow.
    I wish the man well but it’s a disgrace that I along with the many taxpayers up and down the country have had to bail this gambler out through greed. He’s no better than the banks that we had to bailout or the other so called ‘genius entrepreneurs’ that had to be bailed out either.

    54
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Emma Dooley
    Favourite Emma Dooley
    Report
    Dec 12th 2013, 2:36 PM

    @SmcB We will let the courts decide who was the architect off Quinn’s downfall. The Anglo tapes showed wide scale manipulation and wrongful activity, You or I don’t know what Quinn was told, You or I don’t know what documents he was shown and we will not until the court cases run. What we do know is that people from Anglo have been criminally charged and Quinn has not. I look forward to next month when more comes into public domain.

    39
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute SMcB
    Favourite SMcB
    Report
    Dec 12th 2013, 2:48 PM

    Are you seriously telling me that Quinn wasn’t the architect of his own down fall by creating CFD positions unknown to Anglo? Seriously?

    41
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Louise Brennan
    Favourite Louise Brennan
    Report
    Dec 12th 2013, 2:51 PM

    @ SMcB .Quinn did not gamble billions. He paid €750 millions for CFDs in Anglo.
    Anglo gambled billions (2.3 ) to be precise supporting their own shares. As Emma has rightly pointed out, there are criminal charges pending against 3 Anglo individuals for this costly stunt. This allegedly ( I use the word allegedly as they have not yet been convicted) illegal activity supporting the Share Price is what has cost us all. Quinn has not been charged for what Anglo has done.

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mitch Connor
    Favourite Mitch Connor
    Report
    Dec 12th 2013, 2:57 PM

    Man o’ de people.

    Always someone else to blame.

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Seán O'Sullivan
    Favourite Seán O'Sullivan
    Report
    Dec 12th 2013, 3:25 PM

    State never prosecuted Quinn? Emma it may have escaped your attention but this is Ireland where you can do what you want at the elite end and never be prosecuted! Since when has not being prosecuted mean innocence here!

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John
    Favourite John
    Report
    Dec 12th 2013, 3:26 PM

    @Quinn Apologists (Louise & Emma). Will you send your mate Peter Darragh across the border, we’re keeping a matress aside for him in Mountjoy, Will we put his name down for Christmas Dinner? Is he still too gutless to face the music?

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Louise Brennan
    Favourite Louise Brennan
    Report
    Dec 12th 2013, 3:38 PM

    @ Sean O’Sullivan .
    Since our constitution states Innocent until proven guilty.
    Anglo has now spent 5 years covering up their crimes, yet still criminal prosecutions are pending. IBRC have spent 3 years trying to use Quinn to divert from their own wrongdoings. The overturning of Quinns Bankruptcy was the 1st time in the history of our State an Irish Government organisation overturned a Bankruptcy. IBRC have succeeded in having Quinn jailed for a civil contempt of Court over Assets which the ownership of has yet to be decided in Court. If you honestly believe Quinn is a member of the elite, why did they do this. I am confident if there was any way possibly that the State could have Quinn criminally charged it would have been done by now. It hasn’t and that in itself says a lot.

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Louise Brennan
    Favourite Louise Brennan
    Report
    Dec 12th 2013, 12:58 PM

    What has this got to do with the article ? Did you read the article or just see the word Quinn ?

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Louise Brennan
    Favourite Louise Brennan
    Report
    Dec 12th 2013, 12:59 PM

    Sorry that was directed to Mitch and Mr Know .

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mitch Connor
    Favourite Mitch Connor
    Report
    Dec 12th 2013, 1:13 PM

    When their corruption costs every policy holder money, then yes I will bring it up!

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sheik Yahbouti
    Favourite Sheik Yahbouti
    Report
    Dec 12th 2013, 2:19 PM

    It is costing me money,Mitch. Same as when the P.M.P.A. collapsed (cost me money) and then the I.C.I. collapsed (cost me money again). Ever noticed that when the ordure hits the airconditioning the high and mighty have never done wrong – it is for the ordinary punter to pay the cost?

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Luke Sullivan
    Favourite Luke Sullivan
    Report
    Dec 12th 2013, 3:18 PM

    @Sheik.

    One of the greatest cancers in Irish society is Insurance companies. Advertising marketing, lobby groups, and the tobacco industry are only traipsing behind them.

    I long for the day the EU decides to get rid of them and allow Governments to be the insurers – pipe dream of mine.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Charlie Bucket
    Favourite Charlie Bucket
    Report
    Dec 12th 2013, 7:12 PM

    This kind of behaviour is not helping anyone. I know the locals are disillusioned at how the ‘new guys’ have come and taken over Quinn Group and are now running it into the ground. One ‘top boy’ in Dublin being paid a million quid a year to run the group…and he only comes down to check in once or twice a week…I can see why locals are peeved…but this is not the right way to go about things….

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Emmet Galvin
    Favourite Emmet Galvin
    Report
    Dec 13th 2013, 9:52 AM

    @Emma – I’m afraid you have no idea what really happened or is happening with the situation you incorrectly described above.

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds