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Its about time we start up the annual list of managerial/coaching appointments.
    Aghaloo O'Neills GAC
    Aghyaran St. Davog's GAC
    Ardboe O'Donovan Rossa GAC
    Augher St. Macartan's GAC
    Beragh Red Knights GAC
    Brackaville Owen Roes GFC
    Carrickmore St. Colmcille's GAC
    Castlederg St. Eugene's GAC
    Clann na nGael GAA
    Clogher Éire Óg GAC
    Clonoe O'Rahilly's GAC
    Coalisland Na Fianna GAC
    Cookstown Fr. Rock's GAC
    Derrylaughan Kevin Barrys GAC
    Derrytresk Fir An Chnoic GAC
    Donaghmore St. Patrick's GAC
    Dregish Pearse Og GAC
    Dromore St. Dympna's GAC
    Drumquin Wolfe Tones GAC
    Dungannon Thomas Clarkes GAC
    Edendork St. Malachy's GAC
    Eglish St. Patrick's GAC
    Errigal Ciarán GAC
    Eskra Emmetts GAC
    Fintona Pearses GAC
    Galbally Pearses GAC
    Glenelly St. Joseph's GAC
    Gortin St. Patrick's GAC
    Greencastle, St Patrick's GAC
    Kildress Wolfe Tones GAC
    Killeeshil St. Mary's GAC
    Killyclogher St. Mary's GAC
    Killyman St. Mary's GAC
    Loughmacrory St. Teresa's GAC
    Moortown St. Malachy's GAC
    Moy Tír Na nÓg GAC
    Newtownstewart St. Eugene's GAC
    Naomh Eoghan
    Omagh St. Enda's GAC
    Owen Roe O'Neill's GAC
    Pomeroy Plunketts GAC
    Rock St. Patrick's GAC
    Stewartstown Harps GAC
    Strabane Sigersons GAC
    Tattyreagh St. Patrick's GAC
    Trillick St. Macartan's GAC
    Urney St. Columba's GAC

There is more than a chance that none of the above mentioned are squeaky clean, especially with the stakes so high. But there is a big difference in being part of a plan to make it difficult for outside investors to come in, and the kind of treatment metered out to Kevin Lunney. Someone was paying someone to carry out highly illegal acts of destruction and thuggery. Someone with both means and motive. Time will tell just who was the instigator behind this long reign of terror.....because someone was!

The attacks that prevented outside investors like Lagan were disgusting as well. There's nothing to show McCartin was directly involved but the emails would make you wonder what he did know.
I'll agree it's only a matter of time before they get the people involved. And that should be welcomed. I doubt this is the last article regarding this.

These men were Quinn loyalists at the time, whats wrong with that. At the time they were acting in the best interest of their employer. Things then changed, roles were reversed and these men ended up heading a new management team that investors could put their trust in....which resulted in jobs in the area being secured.

Surely you are not insinuating any of the current directors in QIH had any role in instigating anything improper or worse illegal at that time? Yes/No. If the answer is No then I fail to see the point you are trying hard to make!

You can make your own mind up regarding that. People are making their own assumptions regarding SQ with a complete lack of evidence regarding him being the paymaster. Some people might now question what the directors knew about the early attacks on the business.

Wonder will there be questions asked of what McCartain knew of the early attacks given some of the dialogue below.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/qih-directors-advised-online-protest-group-23fjg8bvq

<sub>Two directors of Quinn Industrial Holdings (QIH) advised and encouraged the protest campaign run by Concerned Irish Citizens (CIC) that sought to prevent the sale of companies once owned by tycoon Seán Quinn.

Emails seen by The Sunday Times show the CIC campaign was advised by Kevin Lunney, the QIH director who was abducted outside his home in Co Fermanagh in September.

Lunney prepared draft letters for CIC to send to the administrators of Quinn Insurance after it ran into financial difficulties, and he also advised a group spokeswoman, Patricia Gilheany, on what issues to raise when speaking publicly to the media.

In one email sent in 2011, Lunney told Gilheany to talk about job losses, instability and how taxpayers' money was being wasted by Anglo Irish Bank through its pursuit of Quinn after a receiver was appointed to sell its assets. The advice was given after Gilheany wrote to Lunney to say she might be invited to speak on Liveline, the RTE Radio show hosted by Joe Duffy, and she wanted to prepare for media questions.

"You should also talk about the redundancies already stated last week with more expected in the near future," wrote Lunney. The email was copied to two of Quinn's children, Seán Jr and Colette, and other parties. The Quinn family declined to comment when contacted yesterday.


CIC ran a high-profile campaign on Facebook which purported to represent the views of people in Cavan, Leitrim and Fermanagh who opposed the sale of the Quinn Group. The emails show it was provided with information and draft documents by Lunney and others who were once key figures in Quinn's organisation.

The sale of Quinn's assets triggered protests and, unrelated to those, a series of arson attacks and other forms of intimidation.

Other emails show John McCartin, a former Fine Gael councillor and non-executive director of QIH, was also in regular contact with Gilheany about the establishment of QBRC, a business entity which sought to have ownership of the companies retained locally.

In the email, McCartin complimented Gilheany for "driving OB nuts". This was a reference to Paul O'Brien, the executive appointed to oversee the sale of the businesses. He also thanked her for deterring potential investors including the Lagan Group from acquiring the assets. "We'll have to make sure you keep it up," he said.

"I think we have O'Brien under pressure. I think there's a great 'good cop, bad cop' thing going on between QBRC and CIC. We're playing it cool and level but the pressure you're putting on is very important. It shows what the alternative to dealing with us will be like," McCartin wrote in one email.

In another email, Gilheany sought permission from McCartin before posting a link to a newspaper story which had reported on his criticisms of DUP leader Arlene Foster, who had given an interview to say businesses would be reluctant to invest in the border region if the campaign of sabotage against Quinn's former companies continued.

"Probably no harm, Patricia. She deserved a slap on the wrist," wrote McCartin. "She let O'Brien make a cat's paw of her so she can suffer the consequences."

Gilheany declined to comment yesterday, citing legal reasons. McCartin referred questions to QIH when contacted. A spokesman for QIH declined to respond to specific questions about the contents of the emails but said it had always been the company's position that the businesses should remain in the locality under local management, and that anyone with information about intimidation or criminality should immediately report it to the authorities.</sub>

[Why would people be surprised with the Quinn family being involved in underhand dealings re QIH and intimidation when they had no issue burdening the citizens of their state with the consequences of their mistakes?]

The point about the asset stripping and reneging on debts still stands. The Quinn family behaved deplorably through those legal proceedings, they acted with contempt for the court and for the laws. They had no problem with the state picking up a billion euro tab for SQ's mistakes.

Why would people be surprised with the Quinn family being involved in underhand dealings re QIH and intimidation when they had no issue burdening the citizens of their state with the consequences of their mistakes?

People are entitled to believe that SQ's involved. But presenting it as fact is another case. I don't believe he was involved and I'll argue my point on that. I could be wrong, and maybe he is involved. But I certainly won't present my opinion as fact when my view is as much based on hearsay and conjecture as the other side.

And most of what goodwill that still existed for the Quinns has evaporated. SQ coming across now as bitter and twisted and blaming everyone all around for his woes.

Would he not have been better continuing in hos consultancy role starting at half a million and helping to rebuild the company quietly. Im sure had that happened there would be twenty times more goodwill and by now his remuneration would have probably doubled and who knows maybe a few shares could have been bounced back over to him. Maybe Im too detached from this, but its clear SQ has played all his cards completely wrong.

SQ was removed from the consultancy business. They were at logger heads on some decisions. Maybe SQ could have said "Feck it do what you want" but I don't think he's that sort of person. And he obviously feels an attachment to the business he built up.
Should he have just let them on with it. In my view yeah, it would have been the easier path so it's what I would have done.

You don't think he is that type of person?

What about all the asset stripping and reneging on debts his family engaged in and how it had a huge impact on thousands of citizens in the state?

He obviously isn't that sort of person or otherwise he would have done that and got his £500,000 a year.

Edit* You've changed your post.

And most of what goodwill that still existed for the Quinns has evaporated. SQ coming across now as bitter and twisted and blaming everyone all around for his woes.

Would he not have been better continuing in hos consultancy role starting at half a million and helping to rebuild the company quietly. Im sure had that happened there would be twenty times more goodwill and by now his remuneration would have probably doubled and who knows maybe a few shares could have been bounced back over to him. Maybe Im too detached from this, but its clear SQ has played all his cards completely wrong.

SQ was removed from the consultancy business. They were at logger heads on some decisions. Maybe SQ could have said "Feck it do what you want" but I don't think he's that sort of person. And he obviously feels an attachment to the business he built up.
Should he have just let them on with it. In my view yeah, it would have been the easier path so it's what I would have done.

Yea. You'd wait a long time on proof if you were depending on it. Meanwhile the directors are still being intimidated and worse.

Try asking them to relax a bit whilst the guards and/or the psni get a bit of a handle on it!  As you say so many times, plenty of locals know the inside track. yet the intimidation ( 70 occurrences x £20k a shout....allegedly) was allowed to run for over 5 years whilst no one had the courage to stand up and say enough is enough. The PP may have gone on a solo and maybe his info isnt 100% correct, time will tell if he is more right than wrong, but for now at least the intimidation has stopped.

I've really lost what your saying. When did I mention anything about telling the directors to relax? My guess the attacks stopping would be due the ring leader dropping dead. The PP wasn't on a solo run. I'm sure he had it well discussed with his big mate, Tony Lunney before running to the media to tell them about his upcoming homily.

What was it about the priest's homily that upset you?

If the violent and sadistic opposition to QIH had an idealistic and charitable base instead of being a hired mercenary concept, it would continue in some form or another. But now it won't continue because it was enacted by thugs for hire and has been defeated.

The PP is welcome to his opinion but in my view he should refrain from making allegations unless he has evidence to back up said allegations. In which case he would be better speaking to the Guards that preaching about it on a Sunday.
And if you think his homily was just by him your mad. He's a big mate of Tony Lunney's. You think the priest decided of his own bat to contact the media and make sure they were there to hear the homily? You don't find that just a little strange? It was orchestrated to try and do as much damage to SQ's name as possible.

So they're all baddies except of course poor put upon SQ?

The ones doing the attacks? Err yes.

Yea. You'd wait a long time on proof if you were depending on it. Meanwhile the directors are still being intimidated and worse.

Try asking them to relax a bit whilst the guards and/or the psni get a bit of a handle on it!  As you say so many times, plenty of locals know the inside track. yet the intimidation ( 70 occurrences x £20k a shout....allegedly) was allowed to run for over 5 years whilst no one had the courage to stand up and say enough is enough. The PP may have gone on a solo and maybe his info isnt 100% correct, time will tell if he is more right than wrong, but for now at least the intimidation has stopped.

I've really lost what your saying. When did I mention anything about telling the directors to relax? My guess the attacks stopping would be due the ring leader dropping dead. The PP wasn't on a solo run. I'm sure he had it well discussed with his big mate, Tony Lunney before running to the media to tell them about his upcoming homily.

You think no one has condemned the attacks?

Most people don't confuse rumour and hearsay as fact unlike the courageous PP. allegations without proof help little.

One thing this all highlights is a lack of real intelligence. We're meant to believe that they are carrying out these attacks on their own employer and lets face it indirect employer without being paid! If Fermanagh / Cavan lost these jobs they'd be replaced by fresh air. There's no case that can be made for carrying out these attacks "Voluntarily". It's lunacy to suggest that there isn't a paymaster involved.

There's no doubt some attacks were carried out by employees. Most locally know some involved. I'm sure some of the current directors will Definitely know that to be true. There's no doubt over that.

This information is not new for anyone in the local area. And was alluded to by myself and others previously. Might not fit everyone's agenda and people will likely believe their own bias regardless. Myself included.
But it's not straightforward either.

Interesting article in the times.

<sup>Save
It is the dead of night in the wilds of Co Fermanagh, and a man who admits to being part of the long-running campaign of sabotage against companies once owned by the former billionaire Seán Quinn is reflecting on the predicament he now faces.

"We were used to do their dirty work. Do I regret getting involved? Yes, I do. It was never about money. No one was paid," he says. "We were told it was all to get the companies back for Seán Quinn and his family. Around these parts, you stand by your neighbours and you don't steal their property. We stood by Quinn."

He is middle-aged, of medium height, and his only distinguishing feature is a strong border accent. Thoroughly immersed in the culture of insubordination that exists in border communities, we will give him the pseudonym Diesel.

Over the course of two interviews with The Sunday Times last week, the man explains why people along the Cavan-Fermanagh border involved themselves in a violent campaign that began after the banks seized control of Quinn's business empire in 2011. He says he knows nothing of a shadowy paymaster, but claims the attacks were directed by a small circle of people, some of whom are part of the staff at Quinn Industrial Holdings (QIH).

Why is he talking now? He suggests it is because the Dublin-based media do not understand what is going on, but have become fixated on a narrative about one paymaster. "There's a lot more to this story than meets the eye, and the dogs in the street all know what's going on and who was behind it," he says.


When Quinn lost control of his business empire, Anglo Irish Bank appointed Kieran Wallace of KPMG as a receiver to oversee the sale of company assets. Wallace in turn appointed Paul O'Brien to manage the businesses until they could be sold.

Attacks started almost immediately and were attributed to locals supposedly spontaneously "outraged" at the treatment of Quinn and his family by Anglo. The first act of violence involved crashing a dumper truck into the head offices of the Quinn Group, and it soon escalated. Electricity poles that supplied energy to Quinn's glass bottle factory were damaged or cut down at night, while isolated power sub-stations were set ablaze.

By his own admission, Diesel took part in various attacks that cost the company hundreds of thousands of euros, and he acknowledges he could face a significant prison sentence if arrested, charged and convicted.

"I don't really know Seán Quinn — I met him twice — but around these parts people don't take what doesn't belong to them," he says. "I was asked, would I help? And I did. So did everyone else involved. It was all to get the companies back for Seán Quinn and his children."

During his interviews, Diesel gives vivid accounts of how he would meet accomplices at remote cattle sheds and farms before setting off across fields to vandalise or cut down electricity poles. This was strategic, as they carried power to Quinn's factories and would make potential buyers wary.

The saboteurs would throw metal chains from the ground at overhead wires to cause them to short-circuit. This only temporarily stopped production at the factories, however, so they were asked to begin cutting down electricity poles using chainsaws.

"We were told which poles to cut down. He [a named person] told us to cut right through the stay of the pole, or cut them down the middle, halfway through. There were no phones used to organise this. He would call to the house to arrange things," says Diesel.

The organisers seemed to have access to information on what electricity cables to target.

For every attack which took place, five more were aborted. On one night, his group ventured out in the darkness to attack electricity poles on farmland near Kinawley. "We went out to cut poles and one of the men directing it shouted 'stop', because they supplied electricity to local dairy farms. The local farmers wouldn't have been able to milk the cows. It was called off," he says.

Diesel and the other men involved were careful not to get caught. They used a range of different chainsaws after they were told the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) had begun spraying an invisible chemical marker on poles, which tagged any blade that came into contact with them.

Some acts of intimidation involved physical attacks on the factories themselves, using heavy goods vehicles to crash into buildings. As before, those involved were instructed by the same people who had information on how to avoid detection. The attackers were supplied with the keys of company vehicles and told they were unlikely to be caught on CCTV.

Three days before Christmas 2011, Diesel and his accomplices were told to use a rigid lorry to smash into the headquarters of the Quinn Group. The staff canteen had to be demolished afterwards, such was the damage they caused.

"The keys to the lorry used in the attack were left in the dash. There were people on watchout. We rammed the lorry into the canteen and crashed it. Our instructions were to drive Paul O'Brien out of the company and get it back for Seán Quinn," says Diesel, who suggested that the keys to the vehicle may have been removed from a company safe box earlier.

Running parallel to this were campaigns on Facebook by Concerned Irish Citizens (CIC), which condemned the actions of the banks. Public meetings and protests were also organised to criticise the banks, sometimes attended by those involved in the sabotage.

Diesel is careful not to identify others who helped carry out attacks but insists none of his group was involved in torching O'Brien's car outside his home in Co Meath, or responsible for sending bullets and funeral wreaths to business people interested in buying the company.

The attacks were usually organised by word of mouth. Planning meetings were held in a farmhouse owned by one of the people directing the sabotage, who occasionally participated in the raids themselves. These included the arson attack that caused extensive damage to an isolated electricity sub-station near a wind farm on Slieve Rushen near Derrylin, which Diesel helped set alight in November 2012.

"We met behind the sheds at his farmhouse that night and set off across the fields. There was a lot of talk beforehand. One of their wives was there. The keys were supplied to us so we could get past the rail [outside fence] around the station and then get inside," he says.

"We used a quad to transport the petrol across the fields. When we got inside the station, he [a named person] used these big spanners to take the bolts off the electrical equipment. The petrol was poured into it and then set on fire. When she went up, we all went back to his house. It caused huge damage."

The purpose of the first series of attacks, between 2011 and late 2014, was to prevent Wallace from selling off Quinn's assets to third parties. There was a temporary lull in 2015 when QIH bought some of Quinn's cement and building materials factories for €90m with the backing of the American investors Brigade Capital, Contrarian Capital and Silver Point Capital, but the attacks soon started again.

Although QIH hired Quinn as a consultant to help run the business, the business was targeted four days after its founder's return in January 2015. On that occasion, a lorry parked outside its head office was set ablaze.

This attack was carried out in an attempt to confuse the gardai and PSNI about the group's motives for the earlier incidents.

The attacks against Quinn's other companies near Derrylin continued, though not at the same intensity. Security staff at the wind farm on Slieve Rushen were threatened by masked men, while boulders were used to block the mountainous road leading to it. The road was used by engineers who serviced the turbines. Many of these incidents were allegedly carried out by people who were QIH staff.

By late 2015, the relationship between the local people who carried out the attacks and those who secretly directed them soured when it became known that Quinn would not be taking back control of QIH. The businessman had become embroiled in a bitter row with QIH and subsequently left in May 2016, saying he had been given assurances he would be allowed to run the business but promises had been broken.

"The people who got us involved at the start continued working in QIH after Quinn left. They think no one knows about their involvement in the attacks. They think no one will say anything in case they incriminate themselves," says Diesel, who suggests this is among the reasons why the attacks on QIH have recommenced.

The second tranche of attacks, focusing not just on QIH but its board of directors, commenced before Quinn's departure and have continued since. He has repeatedly condemned all attacks on the business and its staff. Some of these attacks were carried out by Diesel and his accomplices, who sabotaged machinery and put signs up warning local people about QIH and its directors. The signs describe the board members as "money-grabbing traitors".

Diesel says he had no involvement in the more serious attacks on the company's executives, or the kidnapping of Kevin Lunney, the QIH chief executive, from outside his home in Fermanagh. If he does know who organised the abduction, he is not saying. He claims most local people knew Cyril McGuinness, one of the criminals suspected of involvement in the abduction, to see around the area, but would have been wary of him. McGuinness, 54, died of a suspected heart attack during a police raid 10 days ago at a house in Buxton, Derbyshire.

"Most of the attacks were organised by certain people who used us to do their dirty work," Diesel concludes.

"They stayed in QIH after Quinn left. They are rotten to the core. We were used by these selfish people who now think they can walk away — but they are mistaken. This has a way to go yet."</sup>

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/ireland/why-i-attacked-sean-quinn-s-former-companies-ksfnh73kf

If I was SQ I'd be sitting really uneasy this morning. By all accounts Dublin Jimmy thought he was safe in Derby and that no one knew where he was until they came knocking. The Garda and the PSNI appear to know a good bit more than SQ thinks they know.

If he's been involved. If he's not he'll be quite keen for the Guards to move forward.