Eugene McGlone, regional Co-Ordinating Officer of Unite the Union
AN EARLY morning attack this week at Doon quarry at Molly Mountain in the Kinawley area, owned by Aventas Group, resulted in three mechanical shovels being burnt out.
Police believe this recent attack – it took place early on Monday morning last – on plant and premises belonging to the company, may have been started deliberately.
It is the latest in a growing list of acts of vandalism since the former Quinn Group was taken over by Anglo Irish Bank two years ago.
A police spokesman said enquiries are continuing.
The attack has been condemned by local political representatives, and by Unite the Union whose officers had met with former Quinn Group, now Aventas, drivers in Derrylin on Saturday regarding union membership.
Fermanagh Sinn Fein councillor, Barry Doherty, speaking to the Herald, said the attacks ‘will have to stop’.
“It’s pure nonsense. I think the people who doing this are out secure a self-fulfilling prophecy. If it’s (Aventas) going to close, it’s going to close, and if it doesn’t close, they will close it by continuing attacks like this.”
Mr Doherty said that whilst, at the start, people might have been angry at the takeover, those days were long gone.
“There is no support whatsoever in the community, and especially at this time when there are people out there trying to take it over.
“It serves absolutely no purpose other than putting jobs and the continued future of the group under threat.”
The stand-down officer of Unite the Union, Brian Monaghan said he shared that concern.
He said the previous attacks were not mentioned at Saturday’s meeting with Aventas drivers about union membership.
So, what did he think about this fresh attack, and all the others?
“We in the union totally condemn all that activity. It’s not going to bring jobs to the area. I come from a very high principle. Attacks like this won’t secure contracts and, at the end of the day, whether it’s personal thing or whatever, it will do jobs harm.”
Asked about the Aventas drivers’ reaction to their proposed transfer to a new employer, CEEVA Logistics, he said they were ‘delighted, over the moon’.
“But, the way the union would see it is that CEEVA would have secured their jobs.
“No, I don’t think CEEVA pulling out puts their jobs under threat but, at the end of the day, everything is guesswork.”
Mr Monaghan confirmed that the majority of the Aventas drivers were now union members.
He felt this was an important step as it would stop ‘anybody coming in and talking over their heads’.
Meanwhile, the PSNI have appealed to anyone who witnessed any suspicious activity and who can help Police with their enquiries into Monday’s attack at Doon Quarry to call the new non-emergency number 101.
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