A GROUP set up to support Sean Quinn and his business enterprise has spectacularly turned on the current management at Quinn Industrial Holding Ltd.
In a series of recent posts through their Facebook account ‘Concerned Irish Citizens’ has voiced concerns over the running of the company, stating “many employees” are now saying it has “gone to the dogs” with “no money being spent on dumpers, raw materials etc” and claiming the relationship between some of the new management at Quinn Industrial Holding Ltd and Mr Quinn, an advisor in the new firm, has “deteriorated to an unprecedented low”.
In a further damning indictment of the current management the group make a series of unsupported claims against the Chief Executive of Quinn Industrial Holding Ltd Liam McCaffrey.
In response to the comments made by the group Mr McCaffrey confirmed they would be dealt with “through the appropriate channels”.
He refuted claims that the company has “gone to the dogs”.
“What we have been able to achieve over the last 14 months is 80 new jobs, a substantial refurbishment of the fleet, a new extruder for the packaging plant and generally a much higher level of investment that persisted over the previous period of time. Over the coming weeks we will be announcing a very good set of results for last year so what we’re doing every day is the best that we can do for this business to take it forward and any scurrilous allegations on anonymous websites will be dealt with through the appropriate channels.
“I think the level of capital expenditure over the course of 2015 and 2016 is probably going to be certainly €20m so there is a significant level of capital expenditure going on. That doesn’t mean everything is perfect, but the company in my view has not ‘gone to the dogs’.”
And with regard to his own and the management’s relationship with Sean Quinn, Mr McCaffrey said this:
“We’ve worked with Sean Quinn for 20 years , we’ve certainly had our ups and downs in that period, but there’s no lack of respect for him and what he has achieved.”
The comments made by Concerned Irish Citizens have come to a head in recent times partly due to ongoing tensions at the Slieve Rushen Windfarm, originally developed by Sean Quinn back in 1994. Over the past year access routes for the owners Mantlin have been blocked with reports of a number of serious incidents at the site, including a gun being produced to one of the security guards at the windfarm before Christmas.
Mr McCaffrey explained more: “The previous management here would have granted rights of way to the windfarm owners which binds us to certain obligations. There are I believe a number of landowners are agrieved at that and unfortuantely what has developed over a period of time is roads being blocked, roads being cleared, not by us, but by the windfarm operators and a certain amount of tension to the degree that prior to Christmas a gun was actually produced.”
He added: “The wind farm people have a security company up there ( Global Risk Solutions), which probably aren’t that popular, they did the initial security around here at the time of the takeover, but I think we need to collectively find a way forward which doesn’t involve confrontation.”
A statement was released last week from Quinn Industrial Holdings Ltd citing a recent escalation in tension relating to access routes at Slieve Rushen and calling for a resolution.
“We are concerned at reports of further recent incidents. In common with many people in the area, we are keen to see the ongoing issues resolved. We invite any local landowners who have concerns regarding access over their lands by Mantlin, the current owners of the Wind Farm, to speak to us and we will relay those concerns to Mantlin. We remain keen to see any local disputes resolved to the satisfaction of both local landowners and all stakeholders involved.”
Padraig Murphy, Unite Area Branch chairman has offered to help mediate with the parties involved in the conflict.
“We are aware of increased concerns among the workforce and allegations on social media.
“We are disappointed that our call to take down the unwelcoming signs has been ignored and they remain in place. These are off-putting for investment and clients and does no-one any good. We demand a positive working environment and the end to all forms of intimidation.
“Unite is happy to help mediate with all parties in order to secure the jobs and a sustainable future for the Quinn group.”
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