Gardai are investigating whether a suspected arson attack at a Quinn company is connected to a series of rogue actions against the group since the departure of its founder Sean Quinn. Yesterday's fire at Quinn Tarmac in Ballyconnell, Co Cavan followed a separate incident on Friday night when power lines supplying Quinn Glass in Derrylin, Co Fermanagh, were cut. The attacks are the latest in a series of incidents since Mr Quinn's removal from the company last April. Mr Quinn is deeply admired in the region having been a major employer and his removal by Anglo Irish Bank was very unpopular. But there is considerable concern that the destructive acts may put more jobs under threat. Local councillor and fire fighter Damien Brady, who attended the scene said: "I would appeal to the people who are at this vandalism to stop. All they are doing is putting the existing jobs at the Quinn Group at risk. I don't know what they are aiming to achieve." Four fire fighters responded to a 12.30am call 24 July at the tarmac plant in which two vans, one eight-wheel lorry, a loading shovel vehicle, tarmac spreader and small roller were set ablaze. The fire fighters said that due to the operations at the plant, gas cylinders and tanks of flammable liquids were found nearby that could have made the situation considerably worse had they caught fire. "They are being attacked because (somebody) is trying to get back at Anglo, who have taken some of the companies into their possession," said Cllr Brady. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) is also investigating.
