Truck driven into former Quinn property and set alight
An investigation is underway in Co Fermanagh after a truck was driven into a property owned by the former Quinn Group last night and set alight.
Scene of latest attack on former Quinn Group HQ in Derrylin pic.twitter.com/fh2tfsF9kk
— Julian Fowler (@FermanaghJulian) December 12, 2013
Two people are believed to have driven the fuel truck, which was reversed three times into the front of the commercial building on the Ballyconnell Road at around 11pm last night and the cab set on fire.
A third person was believed to have been in a getaway car.
Detectives are investigating after fuel tanker driven into offices at Ballyconnell Rd, Derrylin and set alight around 11pm on Wed 11th Dec.
— Police Service NI (@PoliceServiceNI) December 12, 2013
It is believed the fuel tanker was later reported stolen from a nearby property in Derrylin.
Members of the fire service extinguished the fire before it spread to the building. No one was injured during the incident.
Police are appealing to anyone who was travelling along the Ballyconnell Road between 10.30-11.30pm last night and noticed any suspicious activity in the area to contact them.
The new owners have branded the incident “moronic”.
In a statement, Aventas, which took over the premises a few months ago, 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.
“Notwithstanding this moronic attempt to disrupt our business, our contingency plans were activated immediately and all our businesses and services are operating as normal this morning.”
Aventas claimed the company and some employees have been subjected to a campaign of sabotage, intimidation and vilification.
They claimed that the abuse is orchestrated by a small group of locals angered over how Sean Quinn’s business empire fell apart in the wake of financial irregularities at Quinn Insurance and the billions he lost betting on the share price of the now-defunct Anglo Irish Bank.
Liquidators were appointed to the group on behalf of rebranded Anglo, the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, in 2011.
“These people have a concerted agenda to undermine and destabilize our business with their own misguided and self-interested agenda in mind,” Aventas said.
“Despite the ’concerns’ regularly expressed by some of these people, 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.”
